The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
What is rheumatoid (room-a-toid) arthritis? Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks other parts of your body. RA causes redness, pain, swelling or a hot (or warm) feeling in the lining of a joint, the place where two or more bones come together. This redness, pain, swelling and heat around the joint is called inflammation. The inflammation may also affect other internal organs, such as the eyes, lungs, or heart. RA can affect any joint, but the most common places are the hands or feet. The bodyÕs immune system attacks healthy joints. This causes inflammation in the lining of the joints. It can also affect other parts of the body, such as the eyes, lungs or heart. The inflammation can be painful. It can lead to permanent damage if the disease is not treated and controlled. Joint damage can occur even in cases where the pain is not severe. It can happen even in the early stages of the disease. For many people with RA, damage has shown up on X-rays of the hands and feet within two years of the onset of the disease. But it may be too late to fix by the time X-rays discover the problem. One study found that damage got worse more quickly during the first two years, and 75 per cent of all damage happened in the first five years. Severe damage can lead to permanent joint deformity and disability. It can cause so much pain and swelling that you may have difficulty walking. You may have trouble using your hands for routine activities, such as dressing and cooking. Rheumatoid arthritis affects one in 100 Canadians. It affects women three times more often than men, and most people develop RA between the ages of 25 and 50. Signs What are the warning signs of rheumatoid arthritis? Morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes. Pain in three or more joints at the same time. Pain in a joint all night long. Pain in the same joints on both sides of your body. This is called a symmetrical pattern. RA may start gradually or with a sudden, severe attack with flu-like symptoms. ItÕs important to remember that RA symptoms vary from person to person. In some people the disease will be mild with periods of activity or joint inflammation (flare-ups) and inactivity (remissions). In other cases the disease will be continuously active and appear to get worse, or progress, over time. You may feel weak and tired, you may have a fever or lose weight, but joint pain will be the main problem. If any warning sign lasts more than two weeks, see your doctor. If your doctor believes that you have RA, it is important to see a rheumatologist right away, to begin treatment. Causes What causes rheumatoid arthritis? The exact cause is unknown. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis have other family members with the same disease. However, for many people, they are not aware of any relative with rheumatoid arthritis. No one knows for sure what causes RA, although scientists are well on their way to understanding the events that lead to abnormal responses of the bodyÕs immune system. We know the disease is not necessarily passed on from generation to generation, but the gene that influences the tendency to have RA is more common in the families of people who have RA. Not everyone who inherits this gene will develop the disease. See 'Attacks' on pg. Continued from pg. Canadian scientists are trying to learn why the immune system attacks healthy body tissues. They are also trying to find medicines to help prevent the joint swelling that happens in RA. In fact, The Arthritis Society funds many leading-edge research projects that bring vital new insights and lead to new and better treatments for RA. For example, at the University of Sherbrooke, The Arthritis Society is funding a study to define markers in the blood that will tell us who will have the mild or serious form of rheumatoid arthritis. At the University of Western Ontario, a study we are funding is looking at a new, very important protein marker for RA. This study will help us understand how our immune system begins to attack joints. Along with the control of the disease, we must also learn how to regenerate and repair joint tissue, as is the case with two studies we are funding at the Universities of Calgary and Laval. One is learning how genes control the growth of our bones and the other is building frameworks for cells to grow along and repair damaged tissue in our joints. If your doctor thinks you have rheumatoid arthritis, he or she will usually refer you to a rheumatologist (room-a-tol-o-jist). A rheumatologist is a doctor who has received special training in the diagnosis and treatment of problems with joints, muscles and bones. If you start the treatments early, you can keep the disease under control and avoid severe damage to the joints. There are steps you can take to deal with the pain and cope with the disease. It is important that you learn as much as you can about this disease. Speaking with people who are specialists in arthritis care can provide you with the necessary information. RA can have a serious impact on a personÕs life and well-being, especially if it is not diagnosed and treated early. Establishing the correct diagnosis early is very important because the sooner appropriate treatment is started the better the chance of avoiding disability or deformity. Your doctor may be able to diagnose RA based on your medical history and a physical examination. If you are diagnosed with RA, speak to your doctor about referring you to a rheumatologist (an arthritis specialist). There is no cure for RA, but when you are diagnosed early and start the right treatment, you can take control of your disease and avoid severe damage to your joints. Most people with RA can lead active and productive lives with the help of the right medication, surgery (in some cases), exercise, rest and joint protection techniques.
