Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common and chronic form of autoimmune arthritis. It affects the small joints of the body, most commonly the hands and feet. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling and slows down joint movements. The stiffness of the joints gets worse in the morning because there has been less movement in the body during nighttime. Rheumatoid arthritis damages joints and ligaments, resulting in joint deformities. These deformities are painful and cause difficulties in performing daily tasks.
The disease affects different people in different ways, and therefore the symptoms also vary from person to person. Early treatment may help in a fast recovery because once the joints are affected, they can’t be reversed. Let us learn about the various stages of RA symptoms.
Stage 1: Synovitis
This is the early stage of RA, in which you observe mild symptoms like some pain and stiffness in the joints. It mostly affects the hands, fingers, ankles, and knees. The person starts feeling some inflammation inside the joints because of the attack of the immune system on the joint tissues. It causes the synovial membrane to swell and become inflamed.
Stage 2: Pannus
It is the moderate stage of RA, in which the synovial inflammation continues to cause damage to the joint cartilage. Cartilage is the tissue that cushions the bones and adds fluidity to joint motion. The continued inflammation causes thinning of the cartilage, and the person starts experiencing more pain and stiffness in the joints. As the cartilage protection starts deteriorating, the bones may get eroded at the joints.
Stage 3: Fibrous Ankylosis
If RA reaches the third stage, the condition becomes more severe. Ankylosis is a condition in which bone fusion causes abnormal stiffening and immobility of the joints. The fusion of the bones occurs because the cushioning between the bones wears out. The person may experience various symptoms like more pain, swelling, muscle weakness, and mobility loss. The person may find it difficult to complete simple tasks due to the limit in the range of motion. At this point, the person may notice some deformities, such as joint bends.
Stage 4: Bony Ankylosis
It is the last stage of RA, where the person will feel no inflammation in the joints because they no longer work. The joints may get destroyed and the bones fused (ankylosis). The person may also lose their ability to move and find it difficult to do their daily tasks, which they may be able to do in other stages. But the pain, swelling, and stiffness remain, and the muscle strength keeps on deteriorating.
Can the progression of RA be slowed down?
With early diagnosis and the right treatment, there are chances to minimize the progression of RA. You must consult with your rheumatologist for the right advice. RA does not progress the same way for everyone. Therefore, every person requires a personalized plan depending on their symptoms and various other factors. A small change in lifestyle and taking prescribed medication on time may prevent people from progressing to the advanced stages of RA. Visit icare4u for more information.
