Rheumatoid arthritis in Albany NY can be a difficult condition to be diagnosed with. The pain and discomfort that is associated with this long term disease can be problematic and hard to treat. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the tissues and organs of your body. That is because this is an autoimmune disease that attacks the healthy tissues in your body and joints. RA is most common in middle aged women although it can occur in anyone at any time.
The first symptoms of RA may include stiffness in the joints, fatigue and pain. It usually affects both sides equally. If one ankle is stiff, the other will most likely be experiencing the same stiffness. Pain and stiffness most often occurs in the morning and lasts for more than an hour. Other symptoms that may occur with RA often get overlooked. Someone with RA may not realize they are symptoms of RA and they may get diagnosed as something else. Those symptoms include dry eyes and mouth, difficulty sleeping, chest pain when taking a deep breath and nodules under the skin.
If you think you may be suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis in Albany, NY, a doctor can help with diagnosis and treatment. Although RA is a long term disease, there are numerous treatments that can relieve pain and symptoms for the patient and they will not have to suffer with the condition. A doctor will conduct a Rheumatoid factor test as well as some blood tests. They may also take some x-rays or an MRI.
If it is found that the patient has RA, the doctor will often prescribe medications that must be taken for the rest of the patient’s life. Other treatments include physical therapy, exercise and possibly surgery. Without treatments, RA patients can lose their entire range of motion in the joints and the joints may become deformed. That is why treatment is so important. Not only is the medication helpful in relieving pain, but a course of physical therapy treatments will also help relieve much of the pain and help patients restore mobility in their joints. A doctor or physical therapist may recommend aquatic therapy to help with RA symptoms. This can help a patient because the buoyancy of the water helps to support the weight put on the joints and makes treatment less painful and more effective. Sometimes physical therapists will use machines to apply heat or electrical stimulation to help the pain and increase mobility in the joints.
A good diet is also important to RA sufferers. Those with Rheumatoid arthritis in Albany, NY may benefit from eating a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.
Rheumatoid arthritis in Albany NY If you think you may be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, Columbia Physical Therapy, P.C. can help with diagnosis and treatment in Albany and surrounding areas.
