Ever wondered what surprises Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) might have in store beyond the usual joint pain and stiffness?
RA is like an iceberg – there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than you might expect.
Who knew that RA could play a role in everything from the noises you hear to rashes that appear on your skin?
Here are 5 unusual symptoms linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis.
1. Hearing problems
Did you know there’s a surprising link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and hearing problems? Including that annoying ringing known as tinnitus?
Turns out, if you’ve been living with RA for a while, you might be more likely to experience these issues.
So, how does RA affect your hearing? It can stir up inflammation that damages the tiny joints in your ears, and even cause rheumatoid nodules to form inside the ear.
And here’s another twist: the very meds you take to soothe RA pain, like aspirin and other NSAIDs, might actually trigger tinnitus or hearing loss. Can you believe it?
Now, not all hearing troubles are a life sentence – sometimes just dropping NSAIDs can turn things around. But what if the damage sticks? Well, there are still certain steps you can take to prevent or slow down further hearing damage.
2. Snoring
People with rheumatoid arthritis often find themselves dealing with more than just joint aches and pains.
Research suggests they’re more likely to experience sleep apnea as well – a pesky condition where you literally stop breathing at brief intervals while you’re sleeping.
Sleep apnea can lead to headaches and make you feel tired all the time because your body isn’t getting enough oxygen when you sleep.
If you find yourself snoring loudly one minute and gasping for air the next, it’s time to get your symptoms checked.
3. Gum disease
If you’re at risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis, you might also have to watch out for gum problems.
Gum inflammation, also known as gingivitis (and even more serious, periodontitis) are associated with RA.
And these gum issues can actually make your RA symptoms worse by causing more tenderness & swelling in your joints.
Taking care of your teeth might help you feel better overall. Regular trips to the dentist and keeping up with your brushing and flossing at home can help ease those RA symptoms.
4. Skin rash
When RA affects your blood vessels, it can lead to all sorts of skin issues like rashes that might show up as dark red or purple bumps, hives, or even pink patches. On people with darker skin, these color changes might be harder to spot.
These rashes usually appear on the lower legs and can be itchy, painful, or give a burning sensation.
If you’ve got a rash that’s hanging around for more than two weeks, hurts, or looks like it might be infected, it’s a good idea to call your doctor.
5. Numbness or tingling
Ever experienced that odd numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, or elsewhere?
Rheumatoid Arthritis might affect your nerves in a few ways.
- Make your joints swell up so much that they pinch nearby nerves (like what happens with carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist)
- Cause vasculitis which harms your blood vessels and nerves
Sometimes, the very meds you take to manage RA can cause feelings of numbness and tingling as side effects
Even if these tingling feelings aren’t painful, it’s a good idea to tell your doctor about them. Catching these issues early can help stop them from getting worse or turning into bigger problems.
References
- Arthritis-Health. (13 August 2021). 9 Unusual Symptoms Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis-Health. https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/9-unusual-symptoms-linked-rheumatoid-arthritis
- Emamifar A, Bjoerndal K, Hansen IM. Is Hearing Impairment Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Review. Open Rheumatol J. 2016;10:26-32. Published 2016 Mar 15. doi:10.2174/1874312901610010026
- Reading SR, Crowson CS, Rodeheffer RJ, Fitz-Gibbon PD, Maradit-Kremers H, Gabriel SE. Do rheumatoid arthritis patients have a higher risk for sleep apnea?. J Rheumatol. 2009;36(9):1869-1872. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.081335
- Mercado FB, Marshall RI, Klestov AC, Bartold PM. Relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis. J Periodontol. 2001 Jun;72(6):779-87. doi: 10.1902/jop.2001.72.6.779. PMID: 11453241/a>.