Stage 1 Early Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hands

Stage 1 is the early stage of rheumatoid arthritis that starts in the small joints. Since the joints of the hands and fingers are small, rheumatoid arthritis attacks them first.

Stage 1 Early Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hands

Many people experience pain and discomfort, stiffness or swelling in the small joints in the first stage. During the initial stage, inflammation begins to occur within the joints. The tissue in the joint begins to swell, At this point, the bones are not damaged, but the joint lining, also called the synovium, becomes inflamed, causing mild cramping and pain. In stage 1 early rheumatoid arthritis in hands, these sensations come and go. Morning stiffness in fingers, swelling in the joints and warmth are also some of its symptoms.

If you experience pain, tingling or numbness in your hands, you should also get a carpal tunnel syndrome test. Remember that both arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are different conditions while the symptoms can be similar in both conditions.

It is also possible that arthritis and carpal tunnel can occur together. Carpal tunnel syndrome is more likely to develop if you have arthritis in your hands. These are the two conditions that are often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is best to have a carpal tunnel syndrome test as well.

When stage 1 early rheumatoid arthritis in the hand progresses your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy synovium,  which produces synovial fluid in your finger joints, becomes inflamed and thickened, causing an excess of synovial fluid. When synovial fluid builds up excessively, the condition is called synovitis.

Diagnosis

Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult for a doctor to diagnose in its early stages because early symptoms may make it difficult for doctors to diagnose your illness from other illnesses that have similar symptoms.

Getting an accurate diagnosis of stage 1 early rheumatoid arthritis in the hand as soon as possible to effectively treat RA. A doctor who specializes in the treatment of arthritis, called a rheumatologist, is the person who can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. A rheumatologist will first take your medical history, then perform a physical exam with some laboratory tests.

Treatment

There is no cure for RA if you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but there are many effective ways to slow down your disease process; The doctor first tries to reduce pain and inflammation by treating you according to the stage of the disease. Remember that early diagnosis and effective treatment are very important.

A rheumatologist's first attempt is to reduce or stop inflammation as quickly as possible and trying hard to prevent damage to joints and organs. Your rheumatologist may advise you to lose weight, which will reduce the pressure on the inflamed joints.