How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?
If you are trying to find information about how is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed? then you have come to the correct place.
Although people often refer to ‘true’ arthritis there is in fact no such thing and when we use this term we are referring to various conditions in which arthritis is the principle disease present. The best known conditions within this group are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and leads to a break down of the cartilage in the joints exposing the ends of the bones so that they can rub together with very painful consequences. This pain, together with stiffness, a lack of movement and sometimes swelling can adversely affect your quality of life. Osteoarthritis is generally found in the ankles, spine, hips and knees although it can also frequently be seen in the hands. Although there may be some hereditary basis for osteoarthritis, it is generally the result of shock or a metabolic disorder. Nowadays, the obesity epidemic sweeping the States also plays a growing part in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis.
The second most commonly diagnosed type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis which is a disease caused by a deficiency of the body’s immune system. The condition often appears in pairs of joints, such as the elbows and wrists, when it is referred to as being symmetrical. Initially witnessed as an inflammation of the lining of the joints concerned it goes on to attack the cartilage and then the bones of the joint.
Before moving on take a minute to think about some of the many forms of arthritis before we look more closely at how is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?.
Some of the other complaints in which arthritis is the major factor are:
Gout. Normally called the ‘disease of kings’ this condition is caused by a build-up of uric acid. This leads to sharp crystals in the joints which cause both inflammation and pain. Gout generally appears in the wrists, knees and the ‘bunion’ joint in the big toe. Whilst heredity can be a factor in gout, diet and certain drugs can also cause the condition.
Relter’s Syndrome. Relter’s syndrome is most commonly seen in young men where it attacks both the ankles and knees and is frequently accompanied by urogenital tract inflammation and conjunctivitis. This condition is frequently caused by a reaction to Chlamydia or salmonella food poisoning.
Arthritis also appears alongside other conditions where it is not the principle illness but is an extremely important player in your condition. Such conditions include:
Lyme Disease. This results from the transmission of bacteria after a bite from a tick. Lyme disease produces a fever, bull’s eye shaped red skin lesions, various problems with the heart and the nerves and of course arthritis.
There are also numerous medical conditions in which arthritis has a minor role:
Raynaud’s Disease. In its primary form Raynaud’s disease attacks the smaller blood vessels of the fingers and toes leading to pain, tingling, burning, discoloration and at times numbness. The condition is caused by exposure to the cold or by stress. A less common, but nevertheless more serious, form of the disease called Raynaud’s phenomenon usually appears with scleroderma or lupus.
Finally, before we turn our attention to how is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed? we should also take a look at some of the ideas to help in dealing with arthritis.
Take steps to save your energy by balancing activity with rest.
Take steps to get a sound night’s sleep by maintaining a quiet and dark bedroom.
Try adapting your home to make life simpler by investing in shoes which have Velcro fastenings instead of laces.
Make household cleaning simpler by using old socks onto which you have sprayed some furniture polish on your hands rather than attempting to clutch a duster.
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