Rheumatology Detroit is the practice of medicine related to joints, tendons, ligaments, and bones. The rheumatologist, the medical doctor who practices rheumatology, treats patients who have the disease known as rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, which many in the scientific field believe is an autoimmune disease. This disease causes the body to attack itself and causes bone and joint pain and in some cases bone deformity.
The immune system that functions properly protects the body from foreign substances like pathogens and other harmful invaders. But sometimes, for reasons unknown, the immune system attacks healthy body tissue like joints, tendons, and muscles. The symptoms of RA are similar to osteoporosis but the results of RA can be more harmful.
The symptoms associated with RA are general fatigue, joint pain, and morning stiffness. These are symptoms that are common to many diseases so it is sometimes difficult to diagnose RA. But people who suspect that they are experiencing more than symptoms associated with aging they should seek medical help as soon as possible because it is important to diagnose RA as soon as possible.
It is important to seek medical attention right away because rheumatoid arthritis can lead to deformed joints and bones. Some believe that because the condition is an autoimmune disorder that the immune system will actually begin to destroy joints and bone. This will lead to deformity in the joints that cannot be reversed.
The rheumatologist will examine the patient for signs of the onset of RA. He will look for redness around the joints. He will ask the patient if she feels pain when he manipulates her hands or feet which is are common areas for RA to attack. He will run a series of blood tests and look for specific antibodies that indicate that there is a problem with the immune system.
Once a person is diagnosed with RA the doctor has several therapy options which can limit the effects of RA. There is no cure yet but there are treatments that can give the patient hope that he or she can live a normal life. Some patients are devastated by the news that they have RA but they should trust the the medical community is doing all it can to find a cure.
There is no universal treatment for RA. Some people benefit from a therapy that includes physical exercise. Some benefit from a change in diet. The fact is that treatment is by case by case basis which is why patient and doctor have to work closely together in order to limit the effects of RA as much as possible. Someday modern medical advances will lead to a cure for rheumatoid arthritis but until then the patient with RA must follow his or her doctor’s treatment instructions.
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