Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your own joints. This attack triggers inflammation, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis damages the tissue that cushions the ends of bones within a joint. While rheumatoid arthritis can affect any joint, it typically starts in the small joints of the hands and feet. It affects joints on both sides of the body, such as both knees or both hands.

Beyond the joints, this disease can also affect other body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. The inflammation caused by this disease is what harms other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects each person differently, and its symptoms can vary in severity and may come and go over time.

Some people experience mild or moderate symptoms in just a few joints that gradually progress, while others develop severe symptoms rapidly.

Without treatment, the condition can worsen and spread to more joints, leading to increased damage and disability. Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

Joint pain at rest or during movement
Tenderness and warmth in the joints
Joint stiffness, particularly in the morning or after long periods of inactivity
Joint swelling that may interfere with daily activities
Fatigue or low-energy
Occasional fever
Loss of appetite

Causes & Risk Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetics, hormones, and environmental factors. Several factors that can increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, include:

Family history
Gender
Smoking
Excessive weight
Age

Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

There's no single definitive test for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. Instead, a combination of tests and examinations is used to diagnose the condition.

Physical examination: Our healthcare provider examines your joints for swelling, redness, and warmth. This examination also includes reviewing your medical history and other symptoms.
Blood tests: Certain blood tests can detect inflammation and blood proteins (antibodies) associated with RA. These tests include:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate)
- C-reactive protein (CRP) level
- Presence of rheumatoid factor
- Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies
Imaging tests: Imaging studies, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs, can reveal the severity of the disease and help track its progression in your joints over time.

Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), various treatment options can help relieve joint pain and improve function.

The treatment focuses on addressing symptoms such as pain, swelling, and inflammation and maintaining joint function. The long-term goal is to prevent disease progression and stop joint damage.

At Kimball Health Services, we offer support services such as joint replacements and physical therapy to improve joint function and help manage specific symptoms of RA. We also refer patients to rheumatologists for expert care and comprehensive treatment.

Your treatment may involve one or a combination of the following approaches.

Medications

Medications can help relieve symptoms or slow the progression of the disease. These include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and help reduce inflammation. They can be available in both over-the-counter and prescription forms.
Corticosteroids to help relieve pain and inflammation in affected joints. Also known as steroids, they can be taken orally or injected into an inflamed joint.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to help slow the progress of RA by decreasing the body's overactive immune response.

Physical Therapy

Exercise and physical movement are crucial to keeping joints flexible and mobile. Physical therapy includes targeted exercises and movements that can help strengthen the muscles around affected joints without stressing them.

Moreover, assistive devices, such as braces or splints for specific joints, can help avoid stressing painful joints and prevent deformity.

Surgical Options

When medications fail to prevent joint damage, orthopedic surgery can help repair damaged joints and improve overall function. Surgical options include:

Synovectomy: In this surgery, the inflamed synovial lining of the joint is removed to reduce pain and improve the joint's flexibility.
Tendon repair: Inflammation and joint damage from RA can cause tendons around your joints to loosen or rupture. In such cases, tendon repair or tendon transfer surgery can fix the tendons around the joint.
Joint fusion: Surgical joint fusion can help stabilize or realign a joint while still allowing normal function.
Total joint replacement. Joint replacement surgery can restore painless joint movement. During the procedure, the damaged parts of the joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis made of metal or plastic.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis at Kimball Health Services

Rheumatoid arthritis is a health condition that can significantly impact your quality of life. But with effective arthritis management, you can maintain an active and productive life. At Kimball Health Services, we provide thorough care and medical assistance to improve your joint function.

As one of the top critical access hospitals in the nation, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

In case of an emergency, call 911 or walk into our emergency department anytime. For appointments, call us at 308-235-1966 or fill out our online form. We're here for you whenever you need us.