Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not yet known exactly, it is a multicausal disease in which genetic and environmental factors are involved.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects the small joints of the hands and feet It is an inflammatory disease that can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function. It is generally a chronic condition, with periods of dormancy and exacerbation, requiring constant medication use. It is more common in women than men. It is a common type of inflammatory rheumatism; rheumatoid arthritis is likely to occur in 5 out of 1000 adults in our country.
Rheumatoid Arthritis; It occurs in genetically predisposed people as a result of environmental factors triggering the immune system to work differently than normal and responding to the body's joints and other tissues, damaging these tissues. Rheumatoid Arthritis is not a contagious disease.
The disease affects the small joints of the hand, wrist and foot, the ankle, and less commonly the knee and elbow joints. There is usually bilateral involvement. There is pain, swelling and loss of movement in the affected joint. In the mornings and after long periods of inactivity, stiffness (stiffness/stiffness) is observed in the joints, lasting 30-60 minutes. People who have a long-term disease that does not respond well to treatment, or who discontinue treatment irregularly and/or discontinue treatment, may develop deformities in their fingers and toes.
In some patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, other organs such as the heart, lungs and eyes may be affected besides the joint. The most common skin symptom is painless swelling under the skin (Rheumatoid nodule). These nodules are most commonly found near the elbow, but they can also appear in many different areas such as the heel and above the hand joints. There may be fluid accumulation in the membrane surrounding the heart and lungs after inflammation. Damage to the nerve tissue may occur as a result of swelling in the joints pressing on the nerves and slipping that may occur in the cervical vertebrae. Sometimes damage may occur to the nerve tissue due to inflammation. This condition can most often cause numbness in the hands. Sjögren's syndrome, which is accompanied by dry mouth and dry eyes, may accompany Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Disease in treatment Firstly, drug treatment is started to reduce joint activity and prevent joint damage. After periodic checks, additional treatments can be started. In addition, both joint space and muscle strength should be maintained with regular exercises. The patient should be taught exercises that he can do on his own and he should be able to do them independently. Corrective surgeries can be performed in some cases that have not received adequate treatment and have developed very advanced deformities.
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