Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects women. It can affect people of any age, including very young children. Unlike osteoarthritis (OA), RA is a chronic autoimmune disease, which usually occurs in a symmetrical pattern, as it affects both hands, knees, besides ankles, feet, hips, as well as elbows, and shoulders. RA can lead to severe joint swelling, joint pain, besides stiffness, as well as deformity. It can also affect other tissues and organs like the heart, skin, as well as lungs. RA can cause fever, fatigue, besides weight loss, as well as flu-like symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis knee can make getting dressed, tying shoelaces, as well as walking to the car painful. But early and aggressive medical treatment can help to manage most cases of rheumatoid arthritis knee.
Rheumatoid arthritis knee causes the joints to become tender, warm, as well as swollen. Even knee osteoarthritis causes pain as well as stiffness, but the joint pain with knee RA is much more severe.
Normally, there is a small pouch which is covered with a thin tissue, synovium that lies between the two pieces of joint cartilage. Cartilage covers the ends of joint bones and helps to keep the bones from rubbing against each other during movement. The synovium secretes a liquid, which helps keep joints lubricated, so that they move smoothly and painlessly. Inflammation of the synovium can lead to damage as well as permanent destruction of the joint.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis knee include pain, swelling, as well as inflammation, stiffness besides warmth around the knee joints. The other signs include fever, flu-like symptoms besides fatigue. The actual causes of rheumatoid arthritis knee are not understood. We do know that rheumatoid arthritis knee occurs when the body’s own immune system is not functioning properly. It may even be linked to genetics. Besides, environmental factors too may be involved; though, experts are still unsure of the exact cause.