Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Chronic inflammatory condition that damages fingers, knees, elbows, and toes. Symptoms include but not limited to swelling joints, tender joints, and joint stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect non-joints like lungs, skin, eyes, heart and kidneys. The cause of RA is an auto-immune disease, where the immune system attacks the synovium which is the lining of the membrane that surrounds the joints.  Diagnosis is made by history taking, examination, blood tests, and imaging modalities. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications, steroids, and anti-rheumatic medication like methotrexate, Plaquenil, Humira, and Enbrel. Surgery is reserved as last resort for total joint replacement and tendon repair.