Early Symptoms & Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is a medical condition where your immune system attacks the lining of your joints. Approximately 1.3 million American adults suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Features

• Rheumatoid arthritis becomes worse over time as your joints become increasingly damaged by your immune system. When the disease first begins, symptoms are generally mild and strong medications are usually not necessary to provide relief.

Early symptoms

• Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include fatigue, loss of appetite, morning stiffness, muscle aches and weakness, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Treatment

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are the most common early treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and may include over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen or prescription drugs like diclofenac or meloxicam.

Function

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs function by suppressing the production of prostaglandins, chemicals in your body that contribute to sensations of pain and inflammation of joint tissue.

Risks

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammtory medications pose a risk for digestive ulceration and bleeding and heart attacks and heart disease, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine.