Rheumatoid arthritis what is the pain like

I was in my third year of university, studying to be a primary school teacher. Suddenly, one morning, my thumbs became very painful. At first I only had symptoms in the morning, but eventually I had them all the time. I was also tired a lot. When this happened, my GP referred me to a rheumatologist. I graduated from my teacher training course two years later than planned, but have not been able to work as a teacher yet, due to my arthritis.

However, I have used my teaching skills to volunteer for Versus Arthritis, leading self-management courses in Northern Ireland, which I find extremely enjoyable and rewarding. I am also the Chairperson of my local Versus Arthritis support group. Baking is one of my hobbies, although using certain kitchen equipment can be difficult. Exercise is important to me too, as I find that doing some gentle exercises makes my joints less painful. There are a few chair-based exercises I do regularly and I also enjoy going for short walks.

Swimming is great too and I find that doing exercises in the heated water of the hydrotherapy pool makes me feel less stiff and sore. There are good days and bad days. I still experience pain every day, but am doing much better than when I was first diagnosed. My advice to anyone who has recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis would be to join a support group. I really do believe that knowledge is power!

Rheumatoid arthritis RA. Download rheumatoid arthritis information booklet. Print this page. What is rheumatoid arthritis? Watch our video about what rheumatoid arthritis is. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in joints. How does a normal joint work? Strong cords called tendons anchor the muscles to the bones.

What happens in a joint affected by rheumatoid arthritis? Related information. The main symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are: joint pain joint swelling, warmth and redness stiffness, especially first thing in the morning or after sitting still for a long time. Other symptoms can include: tiredness and lack of energy — this can be known as fatigue a poor appetite not feeling hungry weight loss a high temperature, or a fever sweating dry eyes — as a result of inflammation chest pain — as a result of inflammation.

The following can play a part in why someone has rheumatoid arthritis: Age. How will rheumatoid arthritis affect me? This is because: rheumatoid arthritis may be worse in smokers than non-smokers smoking can weaken how well your medication works. Blood tests. There are three main ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis: drugs physical therapies surgery Drugs. For guidance, ask a healthcare professional in charge of your care.

Steroids are sometimes known by their full name: corticosteroids. They can be used as: a tablet an injection directly into a painful joint an injection into your muscle. NSAIDs start working within a few hours, with the effects felt for a few hours to a whole day.

NSAIDs can be taken as a: tablet capsule liquid suppository to be inserted into your bum cream gel. Managing symptoms. Managing a flare-up Physical activity Physiotherapy Hydrotherapy Foot problems Complementary treatments.

Managing a flare-up. Over time, you may get better at noticing the early signs of a flare-up. Do gentle exercises. Put heated items on the joint — these can include a hot water bottle or electric heat pad. See below for more information. Put cold items on the joint — these can include a bowl of cold water with ice cubes, a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a towel, or a damp towel that has been kept in the fridge. Let people around you know, so they can help and support you. Tips for using heated items Heated items that could help your joint pain include a hot water bottle or electric heat pad.

Tips for using ice packs Some people find that using an ice pack can help their joint pain. Any type of oil can be used. This will stop the cut getting wet. Put a cold, wet flannel over the oil. Put the ice pack over the flannel and hold it there. After five minutes, check the colour of your skin. Remove the ice pack if your skin has turned bright pink or red. You can leave the ice pack on for minutes. Physical activity.

Keeping physically active can improve your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, including pain. Foot problems. Foot problems for those with rheumatoid arthritis include: pain soreness warmth and swelling that lasts at least a few days the foot changing shape difficulty walking your shoes rubbing corns or calluses, and nail problems Infections such as athletes foot, verruca or bacterial infections.

Alternatively, you can access podiatry care privately. Complementary treatments. Living with rheumatoid arthritis. Occupational therapy. The benefits of seeing an occupational therapist include: improved confidence being able to do more things, at home or at work being able to live independently at home allowing you to return to or stay in work.

Aids and adaptations. Further support. Healthy Eating. A balanced, nutritious diet consisting of the recommended amounts of all the food groups helps promote wellness and makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Daily movement. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Park in a spot that makes you walk a bit to enter a building. Take the longer way to a meeting in your office. Balancing activity with rest. It's important to try to stay physically active even during a flare, but rest is also especially important when RA is active and joints feel painful, swollen or stiff. Rest helps reduce inflammation and fatigue that can come with a flare.

Taking breaks throughout the day protects joints and preserves energy. Heat treatments , such as heat pads or warm baths, tend to work best for soothing stiff joints and tired muscles. Cold is best for acute pain and swollen joints. It can numb painful areas and reduce inflammation. Topical products. These creams, gels or stick-on patches can ease the pain in a joint or muscle. Stress Reduction and Complementary Therapies.

There are different ways to relax and stop focusing on pain. They include meditation , deep breathing, and thinking about images in your mind that make you feel happy. Massage can help reduce pain, relax sore muscles and ease stress or anxiety. Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into the body along special points to relieve pain. However, talk with a doctor before taking any supplement to discuss side effects and how it may affect other medicines you are taking. Positive Attitude and Support System.

Cultivate a network of friends, family members and co-workers who can help provide emotional support. Take time to do things that you enjoy to lift your mood, which can help relieve pain. Every gift to the Arthritis Foundation will help people with arthritis across the U.

Join us and become a Champion of Yes. There are many volunteer opportunities available. Take part to be among those changing lives today and changing the future of arthritis. Help millions of people live with less pain and fund groundbreaking research to discover a cure for this devastating disease. Please, make your urgently-needed donation to the Arthritis Foundation now! Honor a loved one with a meaningful donation to the Arthritis Foundation. We'll send a handwritten card to the honoree or their family notifying them of your thoughtful gift.

I want information on ways to remember the AF in my will, trust or other financial planning vehicles. In rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints. It can also cause medical problems with your heart, lungs, nerves, eyes and skin. Doctors don't know what starts this process, although a genetic component appears likely. While your genes don't actually cause rheumatoid arthritis, they can make you more likely to react to environmental factors — such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria — that may trigger the disease.

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Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis can cause pain, swelling and deformity. More Information Rheumatoid arthritis: Does pregnancy affect symptoms? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information Is depression a factor in rheumatoid arthritis?

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Show references Rheumatoid arthritis. Accessed Feb. Hardly anyone escapes the annoyance of occasional aches and pains, especially as they age. But persistent joint pain and stiffness can be signs of arthritis, which affects more than By , an estimated 78 million American adults are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Arthritis can be separated into two types: inflammatory, such as rheumatoid arthritis RA , versus mechanical disease normal wear and tear , such as osteoarthritis.

Both are often characterized by joint-related symptoms. Back pain , neck pain , and joint swelling are also markers of arthritis. So how do you know if your symptoms are caused by arthritis or something else?

While joint pain and stiffness are the most common terms used to describe arthritis, the warning signs are pretty specific. Here's what you need to know to get the right diagnosis — and the best treatment.