Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Between the ages of 30 and 50, eight times as many women as men develop this crippling form of arthritis. Although we don’t know why it develops, researchers suspect that victims have a genetic predisposition.
Unlike OA, RA symptoms are more pronounced in the morning — the joints and muscles tend to stiffen up overnight as you sleep. RA patients may develop swelling in the joints; and this may lead to deformities and, ultimately, total immobility. RA patients may also develop such related symptoms as fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite
Like other forms of arthritis, RA should be treated by both medication and physical therapy, which can help restore some of the lost joint function. Surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements have enabled many patients to return to a more fully functional lifestyle.