Early Signs Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

For people dealing with rheumatoid arthritis, knowing which treatments to use and how to find them can alleviate most of the pain and discomfort.
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, occurs when an individual's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, resulting in inflammation and thickens the lining of the joints, which is what triggers pain and swelling. While individuals having a family member with rheumatoid arthritis can increase their risk of developing the condition as well, the majority of individuals with this condition have no family history of it. Left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can result in cartilage damage and loss, loss of mobility in the joints, as well as joint deformity, among other effects. Feeling these limitations in life is very disheartening, but noting the signs early on will allow individuals to act quickly and start working towards finding relief.

Numbness In The Hands

If individuals feel random numbness in their hands or any type of tingling sensation, it may be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. As the affected joints swell, they interfere with the amount of space the nerves need to function appropriately, thus causing these feelings to occur. Numbness in the hands with rheumatoid arthritis typically gets worse at night. In fact, when this kind of pain worsens at night, it is a sure sign something is going wrong with an individual's body, even if it is not rheumatoid arthritis. Patients concerned about numbness in their hands should ask their doctor if they believe it could be rheumatoid arthritis, particularly if other symptoms are also present.