Recognizing Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be disabling, leaving you coping with chronic joint pain. This chronic inflammatory disorder most commonly affects the joints, but can also cause damage to your skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and eyes, as well.

If you suspect that RA could be the cause of your chronic pain, get in touch with the experts at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center, led by Iraj Sabahi, MD. Dr. Sabahi can diagnose your RA and recommend the best course of treatment to resolve your inflammatory symptoms. Here are the symptoms of RA that Dr. Sabahi wants his new and existing patients to know about.

Autoimmune problems

When you have RA, your immune system reacts to your own body’s tissues as though they were foreign invaders. Inflammation as a result of an autoimmune attack can affect the lining of your joints. Pain and swelling in affected joints can cause lasting damage, including bone erosion and joint deformity.

In addition, out-of-control autoimmune responses related to RA can cause damage elsewhere in your body, including threats to your heart and lungs. Some patients see skin damage as a result of RA, with visible redness and swelling.

Early signs and symptoms to watch out for

You might initially have a hard time figuring out that arthritis is the cause of your pain, discomfort, or other symptoms. RA typically affects your smaller joints first, commonly in your hands and feet. As the condition progresses, you’re more likely to feel impacts in your wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.

If you have RA, you could struggle with joint stiffness, especially in the mornings, or after you’ve been sitting still for a while. Your joints might feel tender or warm to the touch, and you might notice visible swelling around affected areas.

In some cases, you could also have symptoms of RA that aren’t focused on your joints. Loss of appetite, fatigue, and fever can all also be symptoms of RA. Around 40% of patients with RA will have non-joint-related symptoms connected to the condition.

RA symptoms often seem to come and go, flaring up and then appearing to resolve. However, you still need medical treatment for this chronic condition. Once RA progresses significantly, you could end up with lasting joint damage or other potentially serious complications.

RA diagnosis and treatment

The best way to manage this chronic condition is to get the right diagnosis. That’s where the team at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center comes in. When you have your RA diagnosis, you can start to work with Dr. Sabahi to develop your personalized treatment plan. With the right treatment, you can slow the progression of your condition, and protect your joints from RA-related damage.

To learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, and get to the root of the chronic joint pain problems or other symptoms of RA you may have been noticing, contact Dr. Sabahi at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center today. You can book your initial consultation appointment at our Pleasanton and Turlock, California online, or call by phone now.