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Rheumatoid Arthritis
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects not only bones and joints, but can also affect organs. With RA, the immune system goes awry and attacks the tissues and fluids around the joints that keep them healthy and mobile. Unlike osteoarthritis where the cartilage wears down in the joints, RA affects the lining of your joints, causing painful swelling, especially in the small joints of the feet and hands. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects more than two million people in the US and is three times more common in women than in men. In some cases, RA may be hereditary; but, in most cases, experts do not know what causes the disease. SymptomsYou have pain and swelling in your joints, particularly in the small joints of your hands and feet Your joints hurt and are stiff in the morning and you may feel warm to the touch - You feel extremely tired and may have lost weight
What Can I Do About It?If you show symptoms of RA, it is important to see your health care provider as soon as possible. While there is no cure yet, your doctor can prescribe drugs that can help slow it down. Regular exercise, applying heat packs and cold compresses, and learning relaxation techniques are also helpful in treating RA symptoms. Since deformity in the fingers is a common problem in RA, splinting your fingers can help stabilize and support your fingers, improve hand function, and reduce pain as well
Splints and Braces That Can Help (Click on the box below)
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