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HOST Rheumatoid Arthritis can’t be prevented
but it can be treated and that begins with knowing the signs and diagnosing the problem.
Heres Dr. Nancy Sniderman with more.
PHYSICIAN: Rheumatoid arthritis can develop slowly, and
the symptoms can be subtle at first. But if you see or feel any of the following, make
an appointment at your doctor’s office for a check up. As we go through these signs,
you may want to press pause so you can stop and take notes.
Stiffness or pain in your joints for more than an hour or two in the morning, or after
sitting down for an extended time. Most normal pain and stiffness will go away after a while.
Joints that are tender to the touch.
Red, swollen hands, wrists, feet and ankles can all be a concern. Typically, rheumatoid
arthritis will affect smaller joints farthest from the center of the body first. That’s
why you may feel early symptoms in these parts.
Fatigue or loss of energy.
Low grade fever.
Loss of appetite or weight loss.
Firm bumps under the skin on your arms. These are called rheumatoid nodules.
While any of these can be a symptom of this disease, you don’t need to have all of them
to have the condition. The next logical step is getting a physical examination , including
some tests to determine whether you have rheumatoid arthritis.
These can include: Blood tests.
X-rays will look for joint deformity. While, in most early forms of rheumatoid arthritis,
x-rays will not show any difference between diseased joins and healthy joints. But they’re
good for measuring the progression of the disease as you move forward.
Keep in mind, there is no single test to confirm rheumatoid arthritis so make sure to watch
for these signs. An early diagnosis will be key to successful treatment.
there are some things you should keep in mind when you’re diagnosed.
First, this is a chronic illness, so keep a positive attitude. Many people are treated
with their rheumatoid arthritis, and they do very well, and you can be one of those
people. Next, know your limits. You may feel tired,
or pain quicker than you are used to. Listen to your body and know when to take a rest.
Use assistive tools, or devices. Walking or simply opening jars can become harder to do.
There’s nothing wrong with using a cane, or special jar opener or asking for help.
It’ll make your life easier. Get support. Don’t be afraid to lean on
a few different people in your life. They can’t see the pain you are going through.
If they want to learn more, ask them to watch this program. . Then they can understand you
and what you’re going through, and help you better.
Host: Unfortunately there is no way to prevent this disease and right now there’s no cure
but in many cases there anre treatments to help ease the pain that relieve flare ups
and keep you doing the activities you love