Arthritis symptoms: Three peculiar signs warning that you may be at risk of the condition
Ruth asks This Morning doctor about milk helping arthritis
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Arthritis is a common health problem that causes pain and inflammation in joints. This condition is very common in the UK with more than 10 million Brits suffering from arthritis or other, similar conditions that affect the joints. Although arthritis can affect people of all ages it often emerges as you get older. Stiffness and muscle aches are the common early warning symptoms but there are a few lesser-known indicators pertaining to your risk.
Most people are aware that joint pain is a common symptom of arthritis.
But there are also a number of symptoms that often go unnoticed, or that you may not be aware of.
Community group rheumatoidarthritis.net has collated all of the “unusual or frustrating” symptoms that its supporters have reported.
Other unusual symptoms indicating you may be at risk of arthritis include:
- Skin nodules
- Increased heart rate
- Fever
- Hair loss
- Numb legs
- Difficulty sleeping
- Easy bruising
- Dizzy spells
- Sore throat
- Painful eye sockets
- Brain fog
- Dry eyes
- Jaw tightness
- Poor balance
- Dry mouth.
Nodules
Rheumatoid nodules are firm lumps that develop under the skin.
They are a symptom that is unique to rheumatoid arthritis and usually occur near joints affected by the condition.
About a quarter of people with rheumatoid arthritis develop rheumatoid nodules.
Dry mouth
Drugs and ageing are the most common causes of dry mouth. But if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or lupus you’re also at increased risk of Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder whose main symptoms are dry mouth and eyes, said the Arthritis Foundation.
The health site continued: “For years, Sjogren’s was considered a nuisance condition that didn’t cause serious problems.
“It’s now known that it can also affect your joints, kidneys, lungs, skin and cause ongoing fatigue.
“Like other autoimmune diseases, Sjogren’s occurs when inflammation is directed against the body’s own tissues – in this case, the glands that produce moisture in your mouth and eyes.”
Bruising
Autoimmune diseases such as arthritis can cause a person’s blood platelet count to dip below the normal level.
When a person has arthritis, their body uses or destroys platelets faster than it produces them, which can cause you to bruise more easily.
“Your doctor can conduct a physical exam and do a complete blood count to determine whether you have low platelet levels due to the disease or to medication, and perhaps recommend treatment alternatives,” said Dr Rochelle Rosian, a rheumatologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
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