Arthritis information
Although rheumatoid arthritis can have serious effects on a person's life and well-being, current treatment strategies--including pain relief and other medications, a balance between rest and exercise, and patient education and support programs--allow most people with the disease to lead active and productive lives. arthritis information Bill pearl arthritis. In recent years, research has led to a new understanding of rheumatoid arthritis and has increased the likelihood that, in time, researchers can find ways to greatly reduce the impact of this disease. Features of Rheumatoid ArthritisTender, warm, swollen joints. Symmetrical pattern. arthritis information Arthritis of the back. For example, if one knee is affected, the other one is also. Joint inflammation often affecting the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand; other affected joints can include those of the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Fatigue, occasional fever, a general sense of not feeling well (malaise). arthritis information Head neck pain. Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 30 minutes in the morning or after a long rest. Symptoms that can last for many years. Symptoms in other parts of the body besides the joints. Variability of symptoms among people with the disease. How Rheumatoid Arthritis Develops and ProgressesThe JointsA normal joint (the place where two bones meet) is surrounded by a joint capsule that protects and supports it (see illustration). Cartilage covers and cushions the ends of the two bones. The joint capsule is lined with a type of tissue called synovium, which produces synovial fluid. This clear fluid lubricates and nourishes the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks a person's own cells inside the joint capsule. White blood cells that are part of the normal immune system travel to the synovium and cause a reaction. This reaction, or inflammation, is called synovitis, and it results in the warmth, redness, swelling, and pain that are typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. During the inflammation process, the cells of the synovium grow and divide abnormally, making the normally thin synovium thick and resulting in a joint that is swollen and puffy to the touch (see illustration).
Arthritis information
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