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Back
pain / lumbar spondylosis and Disc problems
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
It is a Collagen disease affecting the connective tissues in
the whole body with focalized involvement of the musculoskeletal
system. Various factors like climate, race, diet, trauma, biochemical
disorders, psychosomatic disorders, endocrine dysfunction, disturbances
in the auto immunity and hereditary have been found to initiate
RA. More common in women and occurs between the age 30 and 55
years but it can occurs at any age.
In the early stage there is often a low grade fever and constitutional
disturbances. Morning stiffness is very characteristic feature
of RA, usually involves the small joints of hands and feet and
later spreads to the proximal joints like knee, hips, elbow
and shoulders. The essential criteria lay down by the American
Rheumatism Association for the diagnoses of RA are:
 Morning
stiffness
Pain
in one joint
Swelling
in one joint for 6 weeks
Swelling
in another joint within 3 months
Symmetrical
joint involvement
Positive
agglutination test
Prognosis: The course
of the disease varies greatly from patient to patient. Early,
aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can help manage
the disease, and better control pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
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