Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that typically affects the small joints that are located in your hands and feet.  Unlike osteoarthritis that causes wear-and-tear, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body tissues.  This condition may also affect other organs of the body such as the skin, eyes, lungs, and blood vessels.  Although rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, it usually begins after age 40 and is much more common in women.  With Total Home Health, we take the time to listen, to find you answers, and to provide you with the best care.  Our focus with this condition will be on controlling your symptoms and preventing any further damage to your joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis involves joints bilaterally and symmetrically, meaning that if you have RA in your hands, the joint damage will be the similar for both hands.  In addition, RA typically affects several joints at one time, and most generally it affects your upper joints first.  The joint deformity and bone erosion that may occur will decrease your range of motion (ROM) and function of your joints.  This decrease in ROM and function can prove to make your daily routine more difficult and time consuming.  Since RA is an autoimmune condition, its natural course will be one of flare-ups and remissions. 

Promotion of your health and prevention of RA will be our ultimate focus at Total Home Health.  Our professional staff will work hard to provide you with the best treatment for your specific condition.  Throughout the course of RA we will continually encourage you to use adaptive devices that will prevent deformities of your inflamed joints that could occur even while you engage in your normal daily activities.  Also, we will encourage and help you to continue using your affected joints, and see that you continue walking in order to maintain your body functions.  We understand that this process of maintaining your functioning can be painful, and our limitations for care will be totally up to you and to what extreme you can tolerate.  Remember related to your extremity functions with RA, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.”

The risk factors and signs of RA are as follows:

§  Female gender

§  Age 20 to 50 years

§  Family history

§  Stress

§  Early signs of RA (fatigue, joint discomfort) are vague and may be mistaken for other disorders in older adult clients.

§  Joint deformities are late signs of RA.

§  Joint pain and dysfunction may have a greater effect on older adults than on those who are younger with this condition due to the presence of other chronic health problems.

§  Older adults may be less able to overcome and/or cope with joint pain and deformity

Upon being examined and assessed by your provider you will most likely have evident signs and symptoms of RA that will aid in making your diagnosis.  If you or your loved one has developed RA you may experience some of the following manifestations of the condition:

§  Pain both at rest and with movement

§  Stiffness in the morning

§  Pleuritic pain when you inhale; this pain comes from the space between your lungs and chest cavity.

§  Dry mouth

§  Fatigue

§  Paresthesia (tingling)

§  Recent illness or event that caused you stress

§  Joint pain

§  Lack of function

§  Joint swelling and deformity

§  Joints in your fingers, hands, wrists, and knees are generally affected.

§  Joints may become deformed just by doing your normal daily activities.

§  Fever (generally low grade)

§  Muscle weakness

§  Reddened sclera (the whites of your eyes)

§  Enlargement of lymph nodes

To aid in your diagnosis there are also several laboratory studies that will be performed as determined by your provider related to your specific condition.  Plus, you may also have x-rays completed to determine the degree of joint destruction, and to monitor the progression of RA.  There is also a more invasive procedure called an arthrocentesis that can be done to diagnose RA.  During an arthrocentesis a needle is placed into the area of your affected joints and some fluid is drawn from that space.  If you have RA, the fluid that was collected from your joints will show an increased amount of white blood cells, and rheumatoid factor will also be present upon evaluation by your provider.  After your diagnosis of RA is confirmed, your specialized treatment plan will be developed. 

Once treatment is prescribed to you, Total Home Health will take the reins with your care and provide you with the best of the best services in your own home.  We will work to minimize flare-ups and keep you as comfortable as we can while you go about your daily routines.  We are eager to become your friend, educator, caregiver, support system and more…so enroll today!