According to specialists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis that affect more than 40 million Americans. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive form of the disease that causes pain and deformity in the joints that are affected. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder that plagues more than two million people. The advanced stage is characterized by some common symptoms.
Basics
The lining of the joints becomes inflamed in both large and small joints in those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. At first, the condition is temporary, affecting fingers and toes and causing extreme pain and tenderness. It usually goes away for a time between flare-ups. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the hands, feet, ankles and wrists, but it can target any joint in the body.
Advancing
Eventually, the lining, or synovial, becomes thickened and the inflammation begins on the opposite side of the body in addition to the original painful areas. For example, reports Cedars, if the left middle finger is affected, the right finger will also become sore. The joints will begin to change appearance as small lumps form under the skin where the arthritis has worsened.
Symptoms
In the advanced stages of rheumatoid arthritis, sufferers may experience a low-grade fever and begin to have difficulty sleeping because of the constant pain. Patients report feeling ill and fatigued by the early afternoon after struggling with the condition. After sitting in one place for less than an hour, those with advanced rheumatoid arthritis will begin to feel even stiffer and have trouble getting up. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Center report that patients may have trouble breathing and might experience chest pains. Dry mouth and soreness around the eyes are other common symptoms of advanced rheumatoid arthritis.
Signs
Inflamed joints will begin to look red and be warm to the touch. Joints will swell, making the hands and other affected areas puffy and tender. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic point to the attending fatigue that arthritis sufferers endure as a common symptom. Many patients begin losing weight as the disease progresses and attacks other joints. The most apparent symptom of advanced rheumatoid arthritis is gnarled fingers that cannot be straightened out.
Treatment
Early treatment can help to slow the progression of the condition and delay the severe symptoms. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil, Motrin and Aleve, are often used to treat the early symptoms of the disease. Prescription-strength steroids, antirheumatic drugs and immunosuppressants are used as the disease progresses. Exercises to strengthen the muscles around the joint can help to reduce the inflammation, and a splint can sometimes hold the joint in place to relieve the pain.
