, pain and stiffness in the limbs are characteristically symptoms of arthritis and in most cases take place in both limbs. Other than these, it is important to understand all features of the disease to clear be aware of what is rheumatoid arthritis. The important element to get clear first of all is that this disease is never specific or biased as it affects any joints and in most cases never just one. The characteristic feeling that the individual gets include fever and tiredness and the disease may sometimes vanish after a certain period such as some months or even a year.
The disappearance of the disease is varied in different people as sometimes it may go away without any serious harm on the patient while in other occasions it may ignite flares and remissions. Serious harm to the joints can also arise from the cases where the arthritis lasts in the individual (several years). You need to understand also that it is never specific of certain people because anyone can get the disease although women are most prone. The disease can be unpredictable at times and that is why many as k the question what is rheumatoid arthritis? It is commonly associated with middle age and affects mostly old people but this does not restrict it from infecting even infants.
The cause of the diseases is puzzling even to the specialist themselves because doctors and scientists are yet to find out what is its exact cause. It is however known that the immune system of the patient is corrupted such that it takes on itself and result damage of their own tissue. Continued and persistent research has led to the assumption of probable causes of the disease including; genetics, hormonal imbalance and the environment.
In order to diagnose the diseases, the services of a professional joint doctor or a rheumatologist is required so that they can assess the problems in the bone. The diagnosis is however challenging as there is no single test that has been proven to show the presence of arthritis. Many other joint diseases have recurring cases of the arthritis symptoms and more so the symptoms also are relatively slow in development. Doctors will inmost cases take a look at the patient's medical history records and makes a decision in comparison to a physical examination or test.
Do not hold your breath however, because as much as doctors may not have the proper answer to 'what is rheumatoid arthritis?', they do know how to treat it. The treatment is a step by step procedure that involves the cooperation of the patient to the doctor's instruction in order to win the battle with the disease. The first step is usually a complete lifestyle change so as to take healthy and balanced diet and exercise efficiently. There are also a number of drugs that can be used to alleviate pain and reduce the swelling. If the damage on the joints is serious however, it may be necessary to undergo surgery.