Symptoms of Arthritis at a Glance, a Summary

It is a chronic, inflammatory type of arthritis. It is also classified as an autoimmune because certain immune cells malfunction and attack a person’s own body. Rheumatoid arthritis typically begins in middle age, but children and young adults can also develop the disease. RA is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints and may cause inflammation of other tissues in the body.

The immune system consists of the cells and proteins in our bodies that fight infections. An autoimmune disease occurs when our immune system doesn’t recognize part of our body and attacks it as if it were an invader such as a bacteria or virus.

People of all races and ethnic backgrounds can develop RA. Symptoms which are commonly associated with this disorder include: Joint pain, Joint Swelling, Joint Stiffness and warmth around the affected joint. Morning Stiffness which lasts for one or more hours. Symmetrical pattern of affected joints, meaning the same joint on both sides of the body is affected (e.g., both knees). Small joints of the hands & feets are characteristically involved, although any joint can be affected. Rheumatoid Nodules (firm lumps under the skin), found on elbows and hands of about one-fifth of rheumatoid arthritis patients Fatigue and noticeable loss of energy.

Flares & remission of disease activity is characteristic of this disease. Most people who develop RA are between the ages of 20 and 60, if you fall outside of this age range it makes the diagnosis less likely. The most common joints to be involved are the fingers, hands, wrists, and feet.

Often, people with this disorder may also complain of general fatigue, weakness, low-grade fever without an obvious source of infection, decreased appetite, weight loss, and/or muscle pain.  People with RA typically will complain of difficulty performing tasks of daily living such as writing, preparing food, grasping a cup, getting dressed, and turning a doorknob.
Oral arthritis drug and celebrex

Celebrex Causes Less Ulcer and Bleeding as Side Effects

There is general perception that traditional pain killer medications cause ulcer and heartburn as side effects. Celebrex, a pain killer drug for Arthritis patients, cause less ulcer and heartburn as compare to other pain relief drugs.

Celebrex found to be 4 times lesser to cause ulcer, bleeding and heartburn than other arthritis pain relief medications such as Diclofenac. Celebrex is drug by Pfizer, approved by FDA to treat pain in patients suffering from arthritis.

Gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcer and heartburn are most common side effects reported while using Diclofenac. Doctors usually prescribe Prilosec (A drug to treat heartburn) along with Diclofenac to avoid development of ulcer.

Arthiritis is kind of disease which requires to take medicine for long time.

Patients who need to be treated with pain killer drugs in arthritis are now recommended to either take combination treatment (Diclofenac + Prilosec) or Celebrex alone.

"Now that there is proof of lower chances for developing bleeding and ulcer, physicians would prefer to prescribe Celebrex more than the combined therapy." Said Dr Francis KL Chan, a scientist at Hong Kong based Department of Medicine at Prince of Wales.