Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects your joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. With rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system mistakenly attacks the tissue that lines your joints, known as the synovium, causing inflammation and the noted symptoms. Over time, chronic inflammation causes irreversible joint damage.

It’s not known what causes the immune system to attack the joints. Still, the autoimmune disease tends to run in families, and it’s theorized that there’s a genetic component that makes you more susceptible to environmental factors that trigger the disease. 

What are rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms typically affect the smaller joints first, such as your fingers and toes. As the disease progresses, you may experience symptoms in your larger joints, including your ankles or knees.

Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Tender, swollen joints
• Joints that are warm to the touch
• Prolonged joint stiffness in the morning
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Decreased appetite
• Firm lumps under the skin, usually in the elbows and hands
• Dry eyes and mouth

Your symptoms may vary in type and severity, and you may even experience periods of remission. However, over time the ongoing inflammation may lead to joint deformity. 

How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex disease that can be difficult to diagnose, especially during the early stages when signs and symptoms may look like other health conditions. The experts at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center use several tools to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, including specific blood tests, ultrasound, and X-rays, as well as a physical exam that includes a close examination of your joints. 

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

The experienced rheumatologists at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that alleviates your symptoms and keeps your rheumatoid arthritis in remission. Treatment options may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Corticosteroids
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Dedicated to providing the most advanced treatment options available, Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center also offers biologic agents, which are medications that target the part of your immune system that causes joint inflammation. The rheumatology practice administers these medications intravenously as part of their in-office infusions program.

For comprehensive care for your rheumatoid arthritis, call Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center or book an appointment online today.