How Do I Know If I Have RA?

Everyone can experience joint pain from time to time. As we get older, this just becomes an expected part of your daily life. However, if your joint pain is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, your life can get more complicated. Here at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we understand that it can be challenging to cope with RA pain. Identifying RA early on can potentially help you manage your symptoms later on. To learn more about this condition, continue reading below. 

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that causes joint pain and inflammation. This condition can occur when your immune system attacks your own tissues. This condition will usually affect your hands, knees, and ankles and lead to other complications in other parts of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis will usually bring forward the following symptoms:

• Joint stiffness that is worse after activity or upon waking. 
• Tender, swollen, warm joints. 
• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Loss of appetite. 

In its early stages, RA typically affects your smaller joints first. You might notice pain and stiffness in the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet. As this painful disease progresses, the symptoms will spread to your shoulders, hips, ankles, knees, and wrists. Our team understands that this condition can be painful and cause you significant discomfort. It would be best if you did not try to handle your rheumatoid arthritis on your own or ignore it. While there is no cure for RA, our team can help you manage your condition. You may have a negative outlook on your condition, but there are still steps you can take to improve your quality of life. Depending on the severity of your situation, the following can be utilized to help your symptoms:

• Physical therapy exercises.
• Steroid injections.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Surgery.
• Joint Braces.

Contact HARS Today! 

Unfortunately, rheumatoid arthritis can quickly harm one’s quality of life. However, all is not lost! At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we can help you cope with RA’s symptoms through a personalized program. To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule an appointment, contact our team today!