Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that causes pain, swelling, and irritation, called inflammation, in the joints. But it can also damage other parts of the body. These can include the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. This is called an autoimmune condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis is different from the more common osteoarthritis. Some people have both. Osteoarthritis damages joints from overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the joints and eats away at the bones underneath them. This causes painful swelling that can cause the joints to bend over time, called deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also damage other parts of the body. New medications have greatly improved treatment options. But rheumatoid arthritis can still cause long-term damage and increase the risk of heart disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of other conditions, especially if the disease is not well controlled.
Some complications that may occur include:
1. Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
This condition occurs when the nerve that controls sensation and movement in the hand (the median nerve) becomes compressed and causes symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the thumb, fingers, and part of the hand.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can sometimes be controlled with a wrist splint or steroid injections, although in severe cases, surgery may be needed to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
2. Inflammation spreads to other organs
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that can cause inflammation in other parts of the body, such as:
- Lungs: inflammation of the lungs or lining of the lungs can lead to pleurisy or pulmonary fibrosis, which can cause chest pain, persistent cough, and shortness of breath
- Heart: inflammation of the tissue around the heart can lead to pericarditis, which causes chest pain
- Eyes: inflammation of the eyes can lead to scleritis or Sjögren’s syndrome. Scleritis can cause red, painful eyes, while Sjögren’s syndrome can cause dry eyes
- Blood vessels: inflammation of the blood vessels, called vasculitis, is a condition in which the walls of the blood vessels thicken, weaken, narrow, and scar. In severe cases, this condition can affect blood flow to your body’s organs and tissues and can be life-threatening.
However, if treated early, inflammation in other parts of the body caused by rheumatoid arthritis is less likely to occur.
3. Joint damage
If rheumatoid arthritis is not treated early or not well controlled, inflammation in the joints can lead to significant and permanent damage.
Problems that can affect the joints include:
- Damage to nearby bones and cartilage (a tough, flexible material that covers the surface of joints)
- Damage to nearby tendons (the soft, flexible tissue that attaches muscles to bones), which can cause tendons to rupture (break)
- Joint deformities
- These problems sometimes need to be treated with surgery to prevent loss of function in the affected joints.
4. Cardiovascular disease
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
CVD is a general term that describes conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels, including life-threatening problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
It is not clear exactly why people with rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of these problems. You can reduce your risk by making sure your arthritis is well controlled and by:
- Stopping smoking
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
5. Cervical myelopathy
If you have had rheumatoid arthritis for a while, you are at higher risk of developing a problem at the top of your spine called cervical myelopathy.
You may need a special assessment of your neck before any surgery that requires general anesthesia.
This condition can lead to dislocation of the joints at the top of your spine, putting pressure on your spinal cord. Although uncommon, this is a serious condition that can greatly affect your mobility and lead to permanent spinal cord damage if not treated promptly with surgery.
