{"id":5638,"date":"2019-04-15T03:21:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T03:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5638"},"modified":"2021-03-30T19:23:34","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T19:23:34","slug":"14-most-common-symptoms-of-rheumatism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-most-common-symptoms-of-rheumatism\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Most Common Symptoms of Rheumatism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis can damage other parts of the body as well. There are some new types of medication which have dramatically improved treatment options for patients, although the most severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis can still leave people physically disabled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms wise, the earliest manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis tend to attack the smaller joints in the hands, feet, fingers, and toes first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the progression of the disease, symptoms are prone to spreading to bigger joint sites, such as the wrists, the knees, the ankles, the elbows, the hips, and the shoulders. In a majority of cases, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis occur in the exact same joints on each side of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A minority of people living with rheumatoid arthritis may also experience other signs and symptoms that don’t involve the joints at all The most common symptoms of the condition are covered in brief detail here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     Tender, warm, swollen joints<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of the disease rheumatoid arthritis <\/a>is the appearance of red pigmentation in the joints. Both small and large joints can be expected and there is no particular difference between ball and socket or hinge joints. This can indicate that a person is suffering from inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This unsightly discoloration and swelling of the skin, particularly when it affects the joints of the hands or feet, is a very painful and annoying symptom of rheumatism. The tenderness and associated coloration occur as the arthritis-like inflammation causes a chain reaction to begin, with blood vessels having to widen in an attempt to surround the joint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once stretched, these wider blood vessels allow for increased blood flow to the affected area, which is how the body usually tried to repair itself. The warmth that comes with these tender, discolored and swollen joints is a very common symptom of rheumatism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.     Joint stiffness in the mornings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Joint stiffness in the mornings is another common symptom of rheumatism. Stiffness <\/a>can occur in a couple of the smaller joints, like the fingers, and tends to fade slowly as the day progresses. Morning stiffness is a frequent complaint from people living with rheumatism, however, it is particularly difficult to avoid, given that as the name suggests, it obviously comes from having been lay in bed still all night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also a symptom that many sufferers find receives little sympathy or understanding. The reason for this is fairly obvious. As older people tend to be the ones most acutely affected by rheumatism, it is older people who usually present with the worst symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather unhelpfully for this group of patients, is the fact that old people are more likely to feel joint stiffness in the mornings anyway, with or without rheumatism. It\u2019s one of those symptoms that can be passed off as an excuse or attributed to exaggeration, even when that is most definitely not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.     Joint stiffness after inactivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely anyone and everyone in the world, who goes through periods of inactivity will confirm that they feel at least some form of joint stiffness in the time that follows. Across the age ranges, from children, through to adolescents and adults, all the way through to senior citizens, no one is immune to stiffness brought on by inactivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When children complain of growing pains or dead legs, it is usually after they have been sat in a gaming chair or in front of the TV for a long stint. Being lazy hurts. If perfectly healthy people can suffer from a joint stiffness after activity then, imagine what it is like for a person with rheumatism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can feel as though you are standing on someone else’s pair of legs as if your own pair have been swept out from beneath you. Movement is key, because exercise<\/a>, as they say, is the best medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4.     Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feeling fatigued is a very common symptom that people suffering from rheumatism complain about. This feeling, which goes way beyond merely feeling tired, can sap the energy <\/a>of a person bit by bit until there is nothing left to give. This has absolutely nothing to do with being lazy, and it is In fact much lazier to make this claim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development of a fever too, however mild or aggressive, is a fairly common symptom of rheumatism. The stereotypical shivers, shakes and soggy sweats of fever are always unpleasant at the best of times, but when these are coupled with the other symptoms of rheumatism, the patient is in for a rough ride. A noted loss of appetite and hunger, in general, is to be expected when suffering from rheumatism, not least because the jaw joint may be one of the joints that are affected by the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.     Unilateral symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is when the symptoms that affect a person are limited to one side of their body, more specifically when one arm is affected and the other one isn\u2019t. The pain felt unilateral might appear on the face of it to be the favorable option, as if there was a choice when compared with bilateral symptoms. It’s all relative though, and unilateral sufferers have nothing to compare their pain to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least when the pain is bilateral, it can be calming to note the symmetry of easing pain. The symmetry can act as a measuring stick for when a flare-up is improving. When the symptoms are unilateral, the pain can also feel more focused. When the pain is on an extremity like a finger, it can sometimes feel easier to ignore, perhaps because it can be held further away from the body than a knee or a shoulder can. The advantage of unilateral symptoms is that at least it’s only one wrist that’s swollen<\/a>, inflamed and stiffening up. Sometimes you just have to look on the bright side of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6.     Bilateral symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is when the well-known rheumatism<\/a> symptoms like stiffness, pain, and swelling affect a person on both sides of their body, more specifically when either both arms or both legs are affected at the same time. The pain felt bilateral might appear on the face of it to be the favorable option when compared with unilateral symptoms as at least there is always an opposite joint or limb to compare the pain against. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be calming to observe and feel the symmetry of an easing pain as this symmetry can act as a tool to see whether a flare-up is improving or not. When the symptoms are bilateral however, the pain can also feel less focussed and localized. The disadvantage of bilateral symptoms is that the swelling, inflammation and stiffening up tend to be felt across a wider spread of the body\u2019s joints, thus making them harder to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.     Effects on external organs (the skin and eyes)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around 40% of rheumatism patients experience problems with external organs, namely their skin <\/a>and their eyes, with symptoms coming in a range of forms. Whilst this is less than half of all rheumatism patients, it is a symptom worth picking out due to the sensitive nature of the parts of the body it affects. When the eyes are affected by a condition such as rheumatism, changes in vision, even if they are only temporary can have a hugely detrimental effect on a patient, as their mind is drawn to worries over blindness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, when the skin is affected, the mind is the biggest loser. When the aesthetics of a person are in danger of being affected, the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of that person can range from sadness to embarrassment right through to hopelessness. Even though the threat to the eyes isn’t always that easy to see, and the threat to the skin only temporary, the psychological impact of these symptoms can mean that they are felt all the more severely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.     Effects on internal organs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, the internal organs can be affected by rheumatism. This can be a scary symptom for patients to consider, as when most people think of arthritic conditions, it conjures up images of old ladies with walking sticks as oppose to ECG machines. This happens fairly subtly, but the consequences can be significant. The lungs can be affected by some people, meaning that breathing can become restricted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heart too, in rare cases, can come under attack from rheumatism, with effects ranging from palpitations and murmurs to heart attacks. The kidneys may also suffer the effects of rheumatism, and in many cases, this has sped up the effects of underlying kidney disease. Perhaps this has been a blessing in disguise for some people, rheumatism shining a light on some other areas of poor health. Other internal organs that may be affected include the salivary glands, nerve tissue, bone marrow and blood vessels<\/a> themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Fever with no apparent cause<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A fever <\/a>is the body\u2019s immune response to any intruding diseases and viruses: It attempts to make the body an undesirable habitat for any of these viruses and bacteria to live, and it\u2019s the body\u2019s own try at eliminating the threat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, especially in conditions related to the immune system, the body wrongly identifies its own cells as the problem \u2013 and then starts to attack them instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inflammation associated with rheumatism can cause a fever in this way. The body isn\u2019t sure how to respond to the inflammation and counters it with a fever. This is why people who have conditions like rheumatoid arthritis might appear to have an almost permanent fever that persists even when treated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience a fever where you didn\u2019t have one before or one that lasts longer than a few hours, see your doctor or go to the emergency room to find the root cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. The dislocation of joints<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the inflammation and swelling associated with a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis can be severe enough to cause joints to push out of place, or dislocate<\/a>. This can happen in any number of joints in the body that are subject to strain, but most commonly happens in the hands, jaw, elbows, and shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spontaneous dislocation of this type is more likely to happen in the elderly and to people who might have underlying (or already diagnosed) connective tissue disorders which already render bones, tendons, and muscles weaker than in people without these health conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dislocation can be spotted by more than the usual amount of swelling that you\u2019d expect from rheumatism, extreme tenderness to the touch and sometimes a grinding or clicking feeling (and associated noise) when trying to move the joint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bracing the joints with KT-tape or a strap-up brace is one way to support dislocated joints until the swelling recedes. In extreme cases, it might require relocation by a medical professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Further effects on the eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Advanced cases of rheumatoid arthritis are known for affecting many of the body\u2019s internal organs including the kidneys, and this can, in turn, affect the eyes \u2013 but rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the eyes directly in a few different ways. If you experience flare-ups of temporary blindness (or of blinding headaches) at more or less the same time as your arthritis flare-ups, then the two are almost certainly related to one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, rheumatoid arthritis doesn\u2019t just increase your risk of blindness during flare-ups, but can also cause almost permanent irritation (redness and swelling) of the eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can feel similar to the condition known as \u201cdry eye syndrome\u201d where the eyes are permanently red or itchy <\/a>like they\u2019ve been rubbed even when they haven\u2019t. Again, it will be likely to happen at the same time as a general rheumatism flare-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In extreme cases, discharge from the eyes is also an associated symptom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Dietary sensitivity to some ingredients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you might have rheumatoid arthritis or you have already been diagnosed with it before,  you\u2019ll notice that you develop a dietary sensitivity to certain ingredients. Sometimes even when just a trace amount is consumed or encountered, it leads to an immediate flare-up of joint swelling and redness that might last for a few days to a few weeks after this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common ingredients are ones that are high in acid. These are usually the same foods that will cause a flare-up of \u201cgout<\/a>.\u201d Tomatoes, red wine, hot peppers, coffee, and chocolate are just some of the most common potential trigger foods out there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes your \u201ctrigger food\u201d will be a less obvious one. If you have already removed most of the common ones from your diet without seeing a difference in your flare-ups, start eliminating everything else to see what changes: Even uncommon ingredients and food additives can sometimes be the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Difficulty or pain while breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rheumatism is a diverse condition that can affect far more than just the joints and in far more than just one way. Sometimes it can affect the internal organs as has been already described in this article \u2013 and the effects can even go further than this. If you experience difficulty or pain while breathing, usually in the form of a sharp stabbing pain while you\u2019re breathing in, you should consider the possibility it could be related to rheumatism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s called pleurisy, and it\u2019s when the tissues surrounding the lungs <\/a>become inflamed and make breathing extra difficult or painful. While it can sometimes be triggered by other factors such as bacteria or after-effects from a lifetime of cigarette smoking, it\u2019s more commonly seen as a related symptom associated with cases of rheumatism.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where it doesn\u2019t signal rheumatism, it might point to other serious underlying health issues, including a lung infection where it\u2019s associated with a bad taste in the mouth or a long period of coughing. See your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Eventual changes in bone structure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rheumatism doesn\u2019t just affect soft tissue when it causes inflammation, but long-term cases of rheumatoid arthritis (especially untreated ones or ones that have been subjected to vast amounts of repetitive stress action over several years or decades) can even cause changes in bone structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can make it look like swelling doesn\u2019t appear to go down, or like bone is starting to form extra growths. (This can make joints like knees, elbows, and fingers appear to\u00a0 \u201cstick out\u201d more than they did before, and there\u2019s usually some kind of associated pain, pressure <\/a>or lack of movement that goes together with it.)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These bone structure changes can sometimes lead to an increased risk of cancer as a result of untreated rheumatism \u2013 and in extreme cases, it can be considered a very serious potential trigger factor for developing bone or joint cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even where the potential of cancer risk doesn\u2019t materialize, it\u2019s still considered a serious sign \u2013 and can cause a lot of pain and impair movement as it worsens.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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