Rheumatoid Arthritis Definition, Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease of certain joints in the body, with the potential to cause inflammation elsewhere in the body. It is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the tissues (or synovial membranes) within synovial joints, eventually leading to degradation of the cartilage, bone, and soft tissues. Because of its impact on the entire body, rheumatoid arthritis is, by definition, a systemic disease.

Causes and Symptoms

Most of the body’s joints are synovial joints—that is, they allow for movement and are encapsulated within a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid into the joint capsule. This thick fluid increases the joint’s motility by combining with the joint cartilage to reduce friction. In certain synovial joints (e.g., the fingers, wrists, elbows, spine, and knees), rheumatoid arthritis manifests as the immune system attacks and begins to inflame the synovial membrane, as well as the cartilage and ligaments comprising the joint capsule, and produces an excess of synovial fluid, which causes swelling. This inflammation can even affect other soft tissues, such as muscle and ligaments, outside the joint. Ultimately, both cartilage and bone can erode.

Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are:

• Stiffness and swelling of the affected joints
• Loss of function
• Pain—severe, in advanced cases
• Redness around the joint

In the most severe cases, deformity of the joint is possible as swelling and bone/cartilage erosion causes a total loss of structural integrity.

Treatment

Just as there is no known cause of rheumatoid arthritis, there is no cure; treatment can only seek to mitigate symptoms. Pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, and specialized prescription pharmaceuticals can be effective in slowing the progress of the disease and preserving the patient’s quality of life, but the disease cannot be reversed. In some advanced cases, joint replacement surgery is a viable option, but it is a highly invasive and expensive procedure.

For patients whose rheumatoid arthritis has affected their spinal joints, and who are thus experiencing common spinal conditions in addition to their arthritis (i.e., herniated disc or spinal stenosis), Laser Spine Institute may be able to help. If the patient’s doctor has recommended surgery to treat these peripheral effects of arthritis, Laser Spine Institute’s renowned team of orthopedic surgeons are experts at using minimally invasive laser technology to address the specific area of the spine that is causing problems, without the additional pain, recovery time, and risk associated with open back surgery.

If you are suffering from a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, facet joint disease, or any other orthopedic spine problem as a result of your arthritis, contact Laser Spine Institute today.