Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid (ROO-ma-toid) arthritis (ahr-THREYE-tis) is also called RA. It is a life-long disease that affects the lining of your joints. Joints are parts of your body where two bones meet. Normally, a thin tissue, called synovial membrane, surrounds your joint and produces synovial fluid for smooth movement.

In RA, this synovial membrane becomes inflamed (swollen). Over time, the membrane becomes thick and may damage the joint, and other tissues, and cause bone to wear away. RA usually affects the joints of your hands, wrists, ankles, feet, and knees. It usually affects people 40 to 70 years of age but it can occur at any age.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

RA is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a condition where your body's defense system attacks some of its own cells. The synovial membrane is usually the target in RA, although it can affect other organs. No one knows for sure what causes this disease.

What are my chances of having rheumatoid arthritis?

You are more likely to develop RA if you are female, or have another family member with RA. Older age and smoking may also increase your risk. Drinking more than three cups of coffee without caffeine may also add to your risk. Drinking tea, using birth control pills, and taking vitamin D may decrease your risk of having RA.

What are the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Signs and symptoms of RA may come and go. You may have signs and symptoms for a time, then they will get better, and start up again. You may feel joint pain or stiffness, especially in the morning or after long periods of not moving. Stiffness may last for more than one hour. Your joints on both the left and right side of the body may be swollen (red and warm).

Firm, round growths on or around your joints may appear. You may lose joint movement, making it hard to do activities that you used to do. Your fingers may have what is called a swan neck deformity, where your fingers become bent or crooked. RA may also cause fever and depression. You may feel very weak or more tired than usual, or lose your appetite and weight.

How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?

You may have one or more of the following tests:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to give caregivers information about how your body is working. The blood may be taken from your hand, arm, or IV.
  
  
• Joint x-ray: This is a picture of the bones and tissues in your joints. Joints are the places in your body where two bones meet. You may be given dye as a shot into your joint before the x-ray. This dye will help your joint show up better on the x-ray. A joint x-ray with dye is called an arthrogram.
  
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is also called MRI. During the MRI, pictures are taken of your joints. You will need to lie still during an MRI. Never enter the MRI room with an oxygen tank, watch, or any other metal objects. This can cause serious injury. Tell your caregiver if you have any metal implants in your body.

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

The goal of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is to prevent or control joint damage, prevent loss of movement, and decrease pain. You may need one or more of the following:

• Medicine: Your caregiver may give you certain painkillers or steroids to decrease pain and swelling in your joints. There are medicines that may slow the progress of RA and reduce stiffness. You may also be given medicines that help your immune (body defense) system to fight off disease. It is important to understand that medicine will not take away your symptoms right away.
  
  
• Physical therapy: You may need to see a physical therapist to teach you special exercises. These exercises help improve movement and decrease pain. Physical therapy can also help improve strength and decrease your risk for loss of function.
  
  
• Surgery: Surgery can be done to take out all or part of the joint and put in a man-made replacement. This may be done to ease pain and repair the joint. Surgery may also be done in cases of joint infection or if the bones in your spine are pressing on nerves.

How do I find support and more information?

Having rheumatoid arthritis may be life-changing for you and your family. Accepting that you have RA may be hard. You may feel scared, anxious, or depressed (very sad). These feelings are normal. You may want to join a support group which is a group of people who also have rheumatoid arthritis. Contact the following for more information:

• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  6300 North River Road
  Rosemont , IL 60018-4262
  Phone: 1- 847 - 823-7186
  Web Address: http://www.aaos.org/
  

• Arthritis Foundation
  P.O. Box 7669
  Atlanta , GA 30357-0669
  Phone: 1- 404 - 872-7100
  Phone: 1- 800 - 568-4045
  Web Address: http://www.arthritis.org
  

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease
  Information Clearinghouse
  National Institutes of Health
  1 AMS Circle
  Bethesda , MD 20892-3675
  Phone: 1- 301 - 495-4484
  Phone: 1- 877 - 226-4267
  Web Address: http://www.niams.nih.gov
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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