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Rheumatoid Arthritis: Primary care Initiative for improved Diagnosis and outcomes
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Patient Primer
What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?RAisachronicconditionthatdamages thejointsofthebody.Chronicconditionsarelonglasting(greaterthan3 months),andtheydonotgoawayeasily orquickly.Morethantwiceasmany womenasmengetRA.Althoughit mayoccuratanyage,RAusuallystarts inpatientswhentheyarebetween30 and 60 years old. RA causes ongoing joint damage to many patients. To reduce damage and other complications, RA should be diagnosed and treated early, and optimally it should be managed throughout life. There is no known cure for RA, but effective treatments exist.
EarlysignsofRAinclude:
• Swelling,stiffness,aching,orpainofoneormorejoints
• Morningstiffnessthatlastsforatleast30minutesandoftenforseveralhours
• Difficultygraspingobjectsasstronglyasyouusedto
RAcommonlyaffectsthesmalljointsofthefingers,wrists,andfeet,butitmayalsoaffectotherjoints,includingtheankles,knees,hips,elbows,andshoulders.
• RAisNOTosteoarthritis(OA),a muchmore common condition whichgenerally develops with older age. It ispossible, however, to have both OA andRA together.
What causes RA?• ItisnotknownwhatcausesRA, butitisanautoimmune disease.Inpatients with an autoimmune disease,the immune system attacks one ormore of the body's organs or tissues.Thismeansthatthe bodyattacksitself.
• Normally,thebody’simmune systemfightsoffinfectionscaused byinvading bacteriaandviruses.
• InautoimmunediseaseslikeRA, thebodyattacks normaltissues,suchascellsin thejoints,as if they areforeignmicroorganisms,suchasbacteriaand viruses.
• Genes likely play a part in thedevelopment of RA, but most peoplewho develop RA do not have anyclose relatives with the condition.
Elbow
Hip
Wrist, hand, fingers
Knee
Ankle,foot,toes
Joints affected:
Parts of the body affected by RA
Other organs that may be affected if RA is not treated early:
Eyes:drynessanddamagetodelicatestructures
Lungs:muchgreaterriskofgettingseriousinfectionsandothercomplications
Heart disease:mayoccurabout10yearssoonerthaninpeoplewithoutRA
Stomach:higher riskofbleeding with some medications
Cancer: double the risk of some types of cancer, such as lymphoma. Increased vigilance is advisable.
Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent these complications.
Healthy joint
Damaged joint
Cutawayview
What are the symptoms?
Neck/Spine
Shoulder
®
ofcartilageDestruction
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Primary care Initiative for improved Diagnosis and outcomes
What happens when RA causes an autoimmune response?Whenanimmuneresponseistriggered,inflammationoccursintheareasthatareattackedbytheimmunesystem.• Inflammationcausesrednessandwarmth,swelling,stiffness,
andpainintheaffectedjoints.• Iftheautoimmuneresponseisnotslowedorstopped,itcan
permanentlydamagetheaffectedjointsandothertissuesovertime.
Can RA be prevented or cured?Becausewedonotknowwhat causesRA, thereiscurrently no effective way to prevent the disease. Although there is no cure for RA, new drugs can help put the disease into remission(thatis,to“quietdown”thediseasesothatyoufeelbetteranddon’texperiencesystems or complications of RA).
Early diagnosis and early treatment are the best ways to fight RA• A proper diagnosis of RA, made as early as possible, is
the first step in treating the condition.• Treatmentis focused primarily on reducing inflammation and
relieving pain. RA treatment also aims at stopping or slowingdamage to joints and other parts of the body.
How can RA be controlled?TherehasbeengreatimprovementinthedrugsusedtotreatRA.• AclassofdrugsreferredtoasDMARDs (disease-modifying
anti-rheumaticdrugs)actstosloworstop RA from progressingto more advanced stages of the disease.
• ThegraphshowsthatwhenaDMARDisnotused(the linewithsquares),theproblemscausedbyRAincreaserapidly, especiallyinthefirst2years.
• However,whentreatedwithDMARDs(thelinewithdiamonds),thediseaseprogressesmuchmoreslowly,andfewerproblems occur.
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
00 4321 5
Years of Disease
Dise
ase
Prog
ress
Without DMARDs, problems increase rapidly
With DMARDs, fewer problems
Treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) improves long-term outcomes
I have some pain in my joints. How can I tell if I have RA?Ifyouhavepaininyourjoints,youneedtotellyourhealthcare provider.Heorshewillexamineyouandaskthefollowing questions:– What joints hurt when you get out of bed in the morning?
– Whenisyourpainworst(morning or evening)?
– DoanymembersofyourfamilyhaveRA?– Doyousmoke? (smoking is associated with increased risk of RA)
– Signsthatmaysuggestotherreasonsforyourpain:• Fever Nightsweats or unexpected weight loss•• Rash,tickexposure • Recentcontactwithsickchildren
What happens next?IfyourhealthcareproviderthinksyoumayhaveRA,heorshewilllikely perform some blood tests, and possibly obtain some imaging studies like x-rays. Your provider may also prescribemedicationtoreducethepainandinflammationinthejoints.Heorshewillalsoreferyoutoarheumatologist (adoctorwhospecializesinRAandrelateddiseases).
If therheumatologistconfirmsthediagnosisofRA, he or she will likely prescribe appropriate medications like DMARDs to slow or stop the autoimmune process and joint damage, and he or she may order some additional blood work or x-rays. It is important to realize that no single blood test or x-ray is 100% accurate in making the diagnosis of RA. It very much depends on the clinical opinion of an expert like a rheumatologist.
Learn more about RARheumatoid Arthritis Resources and InformationThe American College of Rheumatology http://www.rheumatology.org/The Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org/Johns Hopkins Arthritis Centerhttp://www.hopkinsarthritis.org/patient-corner
How long does it take to feel as limber as you are going to feel for the day?–
– Can you:• Turn faucet handles?
Hold a hairbrush/toothbrush?•• Dress/bathe independently?
Depending on the extent of any joint damage caused by RA, you may be referred to a physical or occupational therapist, a podiatrist, or other physican specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon.Many patients feel frightened and alone when they receive this diagnosis. Learning as much as you can about your disease and the possible treatment options can help you to feel more empowered and in control. Finding encouragement from fellow patients, patient advocacy groups, or other resources can make you feel supported and give you tools and tips for coping.
• Fix your own breakfast?•• Take a cap off a bottle?
Walk outside on flat ground?
– What are the things you cannot do because of your symptoms? – Before today, have you ever had other joint swelling?– How is your energy level?
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