It is common for people to ignore joint pain and weakness or mistake it for other minor injuries. While these symptoms may resolve with time, they could indicate a more serious disease like rheumatoid arthritis. The team at Osteoporosis and Rheumatology Center of Tampa Bay offers a comprehensive examination and effective treatment appropriate for your condition.
What are the reasons you might have rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes your immune system to attack your healthy tissues. The factors that trigger your immune system to attack your tissues remain unknown but genetic predisposition may sometimes help explain the reason for your issue. Your genetic composition may not directly cause the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis but makes it vulnerable to other factors such as viruses that may trigger the condition. If not attended to in its early stages, it may cause complications in other body organs, such as the respiratory organs.
What common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can have a major effect on you?
Pain is one of the major symptoms of the problem. Some of the other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
· Stiffness, pain, and inflammation in your joints
· Joint weakness
· General malaise
· Joint deformity
· Unexpected weight loss
· Fever
· Loss of flexibility
Some of these symptoms may be mistaken for ordinary joint pain as they repeatedly occur and disappear after a while. You may also mistake them for joint pain that results from overworking your joint. It is recommended that once you experience some of these symptoms, you seek medical advice to rule out the possibility of rheumatoid arthritis and avoid the complications associated with it. Dr. Miller and his team are specialists in this field and they conduct comprehensive examinations involving X-rays and blood tests. The examinations help come up with an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor incorporates a series of tests because one test can give misleading results due to the subtle nature of the disease, as it can mimic other mild issues.
What treatment options for Rheumatoid arthritis can resolve your issue faster?
In recent days, there have been dramatic improvements in the treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, as in the past, it meant a life-threatening life event. Dr. Miller offers a wide range of treatment options that aim to stop the progression of the disorder and relieve the symptoms. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medications prevent the progression of the disease while in its early stages. If your disease has advanced significantly, Dr. Miller may recommend biological response modifiers. Some of the medications offered include:
· Infliximab
· Cyclosporine
· Hydroxychloroquine
· Sulfasalazine
· Abatacept
· Minocycline
· Tocilizumab
· Certolizumab pegol
· Leflunomide
· Azathioprine
· Methotrexate
Dr. Miller helps you determine the types of drugs to combine when offering medications to make the treatment more effective. Additionally, your doctor can offer occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling as part of the treatment plan. Dr. Miller may recommend surgery if the benefits outweigh the risks.
If you are struggling with joint pain and other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, get a chance for redefinition at the Osteoporosis and Rheumatology Center of Tampa Bay. Call the office or make an online appointment to start your journey towards relief from your discomforts.
