Hurts joints? 10 signs you may have rheumatoid arthritis?

People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often go untreated for a long time because they attribute their symptoms to external factors and do not seek medical attention.. Experts recommend paying attention to the following signs of rheumatoid arthritis, possible at an early stage.

Fatigue. Even before the onset of joint pain, severe fatigue, lack of energy, depression can be felt.. These conditions affect daily activities, sexual desire, work performance.

Hint of fever. A slight temperature with a characteristic malaise may be mixed with a feeling of fatigue.

Weight loss. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, general malaise, joint tenderness and a slight increase in temperature begin to reduce appetite, this naturally causes weight loss..

stiffness. It may occur in one or two small joints, often in the fingers.. Over time, it spreads to almost the entire body, especially if the person has been immobile for a long time (for example, the characteristic stiffness in arthritis occurs in the morning).

Joint pain. Joints begin to show pain when touched. Sometimes a sharp shooting pain passes through them..

Joint swelling. They start to look swollen for no apparent reason.. As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, these swellings become more severe, exacerbated by cartilage damage..

Redness. The skin around the affected joints begins to turn red.. This is due to inflammation, which causes the blood vessels in it to dilate..

Numbness and tingling. Along with the bone tissue, the nerves of the joints are affected, which are compressed due to the resulting inflammation and swelling.. Numbness and tingling in hands and feet may be an early sign of RA.

Reduced range of motion. Because rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, and tenderness in the affected joints, it prevents them from moving properly..

For example, at an early stage of the disease, a person may notice that it is difficult for him to bend and extend his wrist.. As the disease develops, ligaments and tendons can be affected, bending and straightening them is difficult, lameness often occurs, and good coordination of movements is lost..

Symmetric joint damage. Stiffness, pain, swelling, and other symptoms may occur in the same joints on both sides of the body.

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