BONE & JOINT DISORDERS (ARTHRITIS)
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS – WHAT HAPPENS
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Normally a healthy immune system is programmed to protect the body from harmful foreign bodies like bacteria and viruses but in rheumatoid arthritis the immune system (defense system) of the body, for unknown reasons starts attacking the body’s healthy tissue. This reaction results in inflammation of joints causing:
- reduction in joint space
- loss of normal joint shape and alignment
- restriction of joint movement
- redness, warmth, pain and swelling in the joints.
As rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease the disease may also involve places other than the joints (like the membrane surrounding the vital organs in the body).