Rheumatoid Arthritis - Signs & Symptoms | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Rheumatology・5 minutes read
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis experience gradual symptoms such as morning stiffness and joint pain, while atypical presentations may involve abrupt onset of pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Flares in the disease are triggered by various factors and can be managed through medication adjustments, rest, and symptom self-management to reduce their frequency and intensity.
Insights
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis commonly experience gradual symptoms like morning stiffness and small joint pain, while atypical cases may present with sudden onset symptoms affecting multiple joints and disrupting sleep patterns.
- Flares in rheumatoid arthritis, intensified by factors such as stress or medication changes, lead to increased disease activity, necessitating adjustments in medications, rest, and symptom management to minimize their frequency and severity.
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Recent questions
What are common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often experience gradual symptoms, such as stiffness in the mornings that improves with activity, and may notice pain and swelling in their joints, particularly in the small joints of the hands and feet.
How does rheumatoid arthritis present atypically?
Atypical presentations of rheumatoid arthritis can involve abrupt onset of symptoms like pain, stiffness, and fatigue, with inflammation affecting various joints and causing sleep disturbances.
What triggers flares in rheumatoid arthritis?
Flares in rheumatoid arthritis are periods of increased disease activity, triggered by factors like medication changes, stress, or physical trauma, leading to symptoms like fatigue, stiffness, joint pain, and poor sleep.
How can flares in rheumatoid arthritis be managed?
Managing flares may involve adjusting medications, resting more, and self-managing symptoms, with the goal of reducing the frequency and intensity of flares through close monitoring and potential therapy changes.
What are the goals of managing rheumatoid arthritis flares?
The goals of managing rheumatoid arthritis flares include reducing the frequency and intensity of flares through close monitoring, potential therapy changes, and self-management strategies to improve symptoms and overall quality of life.
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Summary
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Understanding and Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares
- Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often experience gradual symptoms, such as stiffness in the mornings that improves with activity, and may notice pain and swelling in their joints, particularly in the small joints of the hands and feet.
- Atypical presentations of rheumatoid arthritis can involve abrupt onset of symptoms like pain, stiffness, and fatigue, with inflammation affecting various joints and causing sleep disturbances.
- Flares in rheumatoid arthritis are periods of increased disease activity, triggered by factors like medication changes, stress, or physical trauma, leading to symptoms like fatigue, stiffness, joint pain, and poor sleep.
- Managing flares may involve adjusting medications, resting more, and self-managing symptoms, with the goal of reducing the frequency and intensity of flares through close monitoring and potential therapy changes.
