Arthritis Signs And Symptoms Demand Your Attention

October 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

by Tammy Foster

Of the many arthritis signs and symptoms, the most common is the characteristic inflammation of the body’s joints. Classified as a rheumatic disease, arthritis is currently the most common disease in the United States.

The rheumatic disease of arthritis leaves each individual with an illness blueprint of their very own. Arthritis signs and symptoms vary between different factors, treatments, complications and even prognosis. No two patients are the same. However, patients with arthritis are similar because as a whole, their disease tends to impact the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage and in many cases will affect internal body areas.

Arthritis signs and symptoms include pain and joint limitations, joint swelling, and stiffness, tenderness or pain whenever a joint is touched and of course, warmth and redness in the joint itself. It should be no surprise that arthritis can attack joints in just about any part of the body.

Different forms of arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause changes that you can see and feel. With Osteoarthritis the symptoms can range from stiffness and mild pain that comes and goes with activities like walking, bending or stooping to severe joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can attack almost any joint in the body. Most of the time with rheumatoid arthritis if you have arthritis in a joint on one side of the body the same joint on the other side of the body will be affected.

If you have arthritis signs and symptoms, it is important to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Diagnosing arthritis early can help to prevent irreversible damage and disability.

Your doctor will review your history of arthritis signs and symptoms and examine the joints for inflammation and deformity. Certain blood, urine, joint fluid and x-ray test may also be ordered to help get an accurate diagnosis of arthritis. It may take several visits before your doctor can be certain of the diagnosis. Your primary physician may refer you to a rheumatologist for more specialized care.

There are several arthritis signs and symptoms and they must be taken seriously. There is no known cure for arthritis. Therefore, the treatment goal for this disease is to minimize the symptoms and on-going destruction of arthritis. With the proper treatment you can continue to live a happy and active lifestyle.

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