When a person is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, he or she is likely to experience swelling, pain, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. This type of arthritis, however, is different from others because it typically occurs in a symmetrical pattern, which means that if one hand is affected, the other will be as well. Possible treatment strategies include pain-relieving medications, medicines that slow down joint damage, a balance between rest and exercise, and patient education and support programs.
(Click Rheumatoid Arthritis to read the full eMedTV article on this topic. This article takes an in-depth look at possible causes and symptoms of the disease. You can also click any of the links in the box to the right for specific information.)
