Less common but more serious than osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease where various joints (finger joints, wrists, toes and knees) are inflamed leading to:
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Loss of function, for some individuals
The inflammation is usually symmetrical, meaning that it occurs on both sides of the body. RA is the most crippling form of arthritis and affects more than 2 million Americans. Although it can strike at any age, RA most often affects individuals between the ages of 20 and 45. It also affects women three times more than men.
Virtua provides inpatient and outpatient arthritis services for individuals looking to relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The services include:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Medical and surgical options, including minimally invasive surgery
- Year-round community education program
Virtua's rheumatologists (arthritis doctors) rely on a team approach strategy to provide patients the best overall care. Since arthritis-related conditions involve many systems of the body, Virtua's rheumatologists have ongoing communications with:
- Primary care physicians
- Cardiologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Ppulmonologists
- Orthopedic physicians
- Ophthalmologists
- Endocrinologists
For more information on Virtua's arthritis-related classes, programs or events, call 1-888-VIRTUA-3 (1-888-847-8823).