Does rheumatoid arthritis cause disability? Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis are worried about deformity and disability. Today we will tell you something about rheumatoid arthritis to answer this question.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease with the unknown cause and unfound cure.
Does rheumatoid arthritis cause disability? The truth is that rheumatoid arthritis has a high rate for disability, especially for the delayed diagnosis and treatment. Initially the patients may feel redness, swelling, warmth and pain in the symmetrical small joints of arms and legs. The pain is caused by inflammation, and usually doctors will give you some NAISDs (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug) to relieve pain and inflammation. But these medications can’t prevent the progression of the disease, and can’t be used for a long period due to its side effects on gastroenteric system.
As the disease worsens, it may affect your joints of your whole body and your internal organs function. This is because rheumatoid arthritis is an immune disorder, for which the overreaction of immune will damage many other system of human body. What’s worse, the chronic suffering would frustrate the patients’ confidence and make them lose hope to live.
Rheumatoid arthritis is influenced by many factors, such as environment, mood, treatment and individual’s condition etc. The damp and cold environment will make it get worse. In the late stage of rheumatoid arthritis, patients would feel stiff in their joints and couldn’t move. The loss of function of joints and deformity may cause patients lose the ability to live.
This disease will last for many years. The main purpose for the treatment is to prevent
the deformity and disability, and try to recover the joint function of
patients, and at last lead a normal life.
Besides, rheumatoid arthritis may lead to many complications which can cause disability. These complications include: SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), AS (Ankylosing Spondylitis), Lyme disease, Viral myocarditis and so on.
Does rheumatoid arthritis cause disability? Through the above understanding about rheumatoid arthritis, I believe you have known the answer. If you are RA patient, or you have similar symptoms of RA, I sincerely suggest you go to hospital for a definite diagnosis and effective treatment. Generally the earlier the diagnosis and treatment is performed, the better the prognosis would be.
