The arthritis you don't know about
It begins with morning stiffness — the kind that doesn't go away after an hour or two. It causes swelling and pain in the joints, wrists and knuckles and sometimes the knees and balls of the feet. It destroys cartilage and bone. It's symmetric so that if one wrist is affected the other one is too. It causes fatigue and a feeling of malaise, compromising body and spirit. It's rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic disease where various joints in the body are inflamed leading to swelling, warmth, pain, stiffness and sometimes loss of function.
Getting the right diagnosis
Treatment can provide relief
Getting help
One woman's story
Less common but more serious than osteoarthritis (the kind that most people experience as they age), RA usually starts between the ages of 20 and 45, and it primarily affects women. "We don't know what causes RA," says Richard Hymowitz, MD, chief of rheumatology at Virtua Memorial Hospital. "It appears that genetics may increase susceptibility, but there have been cases of identical twins in which one has RA and the other doesn't."
Getting the right diagnosis
Rheumatoid arthritis can be hard to accurately diagnose since it resembles other conditions, and even blood tests and x-rays can show normal results for months after symptoms begin. That's why people experiencing symptoms are best served by a consultation with a specialist, a physician experienced in the intricacies of this condition. "An RA diagnosis is based on a physical exam and patient history, supplemented with labs and x-rays," notes Brian Grimmett, MD, chief of rheumatology at Virtua West Jersey Hospitals.
Treatment can provide relief
The objective of treatment is to reduce inflammation, prevent further damage to the bones and ligaments of the joints, preserve movement and decrease long-term medication side effects. Dr. Hymowitz says: "Today we treat RA much more aggressively than we did 15 years ago. We start with medications at the beginning in order to prevent long-term injury and damage from occurring." Medications include anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs called DMARDs. While these drugs are affective in managing the pain and slowing the progress of the disease, there is no cure.
A sensible diet and regular exercise also helps. While many people with arthritis fear that physical activity breaches the traditional medical regimen of rest, studies show that inactivity results in weak muscles, stiff joints, reduced mobility and lost vitality. Current research demonstrates that a balance of rest and physical activity is a more effective approach to arthritis management.
Getting help
Committed to helping people with all types of arthritis live a full and active life, the professionals at Virtua Health provide medical and surgical interventions; physical and occupational therapy; pain management; and community health education. There is a range of arthritis self-management, support and other programs to help people minimize disability and cope with this chronic illness.
One woman's story
Vilma Laime was 35 in 1963 when she suddenly experienced terrible pain and was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Upon immigration to the U.S. from Latvia in 1962, Laime had undergone a complete physical examination including x-rays. A year later when the x-rays were compared, she couldn't believe the difference. "The disease was very fast moving and took over my body joint by joint."
Like many others, prior to her diagnosis with RA, she had always been healthy. "I was very strong — had climbed mountains," she confides. "No one in my family ever had arthritis." Despite the discomfort, Laime continued to work at a chewing gum factory. "It was very painful, but the machines were so loud that they would drown out my cries," she recalls. "I had to keep working and continue moving."
Since then, Laime has been on a variety of medications to control her symptoms. Dr. Grimmett has been her physician for more than 25 years. "We work together as a team on my treatment," according to Laime. "Dr. Grimmett knows how far I can go and what I can do. He helps keep me moving."