Diseases and Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis - causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis,treatment and management

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune; inflammatory response disease.
It is an inflammation followed by formation of granulation of tissue in synovial joins and cartilage. Ankylosis occur and may lead to joint immobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammation of synovial joints and affects small joints of hands.
It is also an athropic and proliferative arthritis and always bilateral.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• idiophatic
• metabolic disorder
• infection
• hereditary
• allergic phenomenon
• stress

Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• pain in morning and decreases with activity
• anorexia
• stiffness
• inflammation
• fatigue
• ulnar neck/swan neck deformity

Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• (+) Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor
• serum IgG

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
• analgesics
• gold therapy (using gold sands)

Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

• warm bath - to relieve pain
• paraffin wax (wax + oil) - dipping technique
• R.O.M (range of motion) exercises

Nursing Goal - to relieve pain

Here are some local board practice exam about musculo-skeletal diseases.


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