Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) characterized by chronic pain and inflammation in the joints is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the tissues and other organs. Before explaining what RA is, we should first know what an autoimmune disease is. Autoimmune (AI) disease happens when the body's good cells and tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system, primarily meant to attack infected cells. Rheumatism is one type of AI when patients have antibodies in their blood that causes tissue and joint inflammation and affects multiple organs.


Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness that can last for years. Symptoms like pain and swelling intensify with time and age and progressively lead to functional disability. RA is often referred to as a life crippling disease. Known to be a progressive disease, RA can be traced through three stages of development. The first stage: Swelling of the synovial lining that causes pain, stiffness of the joints, warmth and redness. The second stage: thickening of the cells and tissues that cause bone erosion, pain and movement restriction. RA is a chronic disease and like anything chronic, it has phases when the disease intensifies or even subsides and it being a systemic disease it affects other organs slowly with age. Early medical treatment and interventions help arrest the disease and leads to less damage, so early detection and treatment is necessary for a healthy life with progressive age. While there is no definite cure for the disease, RA can be controlled with drugs, regular joint exercises; use of joint protection devices and techniques can help lessen the discomfort associated leading to a more fulfilling life.


Some of the symptoms associated with RA are:

Rheumatoid arthritis can attack any joint but generally has been seen to affect the smaller joints like wrist, fingers, toes and anklebone. It is generally said that joint involvement is symmetrical, that is, the same joints on both hands and toes would hurt. Other physical symptoms include fatigue, morning stiffness, particularly in the morning or when inactive for a long time. It is said the more the stiffness is during rest, the more active the disease is. Weakness and flu like symptoms and pain are other indicators.
A typical indication of RA is the flaring up of the disease followed by almost remission or disease inactivity. Muscle pains and feeing of rheumatic lumps near joints, loss of appetite, weight loss, dry mouth and eyes are also symptoms.


Treatment

Apart from self-management, medication under an able medical practitioner is important. Some good combinations are:
· Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) & Analgesics– Drugs used to reduce pain and inflammation.
· Glucocorticoids or Prednisone – These are prescribed in low maintenance doses to slow joint damage caused by inflammation.
· Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) – These are used with NSAIDs to slow joint destruction caused over time.
· Biologic Response Modifiers – Modifiers of the immune system by inhibiting proteins.


However, to deal with rheumatoid arthritis a lot of patience, positive attitude and will to overcome the crippling factors of the disease is a must have!