arthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes and Symptoms

The term "rheumatism" encompasses a large number of different inflammatory (for example, Bechterew's disease) or joint diseases caused by wear (for example osteoarthritis) and soft tissue disorders. In total, around 8 million people in Germany are affected by rheumatic diseases. The word "rheumatism" means river and marks the flowing pain that runs through the body from joint to joint. In general usage rheumatism usually refers to rheumatoid arthritis, also called chronic polyarthritis.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic joint disease that leads to the destruction and deformation of the affected joints. It is a so-called systemic autoimmune disease. About 1% of the population suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

The disease usually occurs between the age of 20 and 50, but even small children can fall ill. The disease is not curable. The main goal of the treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent progression. The most important measures are early and careful drug therapy.
Causes unclear

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unclear. A hereditary predisposition to inflammatory reactions against the body's own substances seems to play a role. "Rheumatoid factors", that is, antibodies against the body's own factors (autoantibodies) contribute to the disease process. Added to this is the proliferation of the synovial membrane, which surrounds the joint and contains nerves and vessels.
Rheumatoid arthritis: symptoms

The first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are pain, stiffness of the joints especially in the morning, weakness and swelling of the finger joints on both hands. In one third of those affected, the disease begins atypically, that is, only a few joints are affected. Accompanying usually occur general complaints such as fatigue, weight loss and mild fever.

In 20% of patients, the symptoms recede spontaneously. However, in the great majority, rheumatoid arthritis continues. It comes to "spurts" that can lead to joint destruction and deformation. Function and strength in the affected joints are limited.

In some cases, other organs (for example eyes, heart, bone marrow) are also affected by "inflammation". It can cause "rheumatism" in the skin, lungs and heart. In addition, there are many special forms of rheumatoid arthritis, which have special symptom combinations that have a special course.
Effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis

In the foreground of rheumatoid arthritis is the pain and destruction of the joint. Deformations and functional restrictions are the result. In everyday life, these functional limitations lead to significant disabilities, such as when walking, getting dressed or in everyday operations such as opening bottles. The infestation of internal organs can also worsen the quality of life and in extreme cases even shorten life expectancy.
This is how the correct diagnosis succeeds

The most important examinations include the physical examination, blood and tissue examinations as well as the X-ray image. In most cases, the diagnosis can not be made right at the beginning of the illness, but only later on, as there are usually only a few typical signs at the beginning. The diagnosis "rheumatoid arthritis" is made if 7 of the following 10 points are met:

    Morning stiffness of the joints
    Movement or pressure pain in at least one joint
    Soft tissue swelling or effusion (fluid accumulation) in at least one joint
    Swelling in at least one other joint (free interval maximum 3 months)
    Bilateral symmetrical joint swelling
    rheumatoid nodules
    Typical changes in the radiograph
    Rheumatoid factors in the blood positive
    Positive detection of certain mucins (mucins) in the blood that protect the skin from chemical or mechanical effects
    In the cell image (histological examination) visible typical changes of the artificial skin (Synovia)