"Inflammatory joint rheumatism causes severe joint problems if left untreated

Elazığ Fırat University Hospital Internal Medicine Department Rheumatology Department faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karataş said that inflammatory joint rheumatism disease known as rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe joint problems if left untreated.

Elazığ Fırat University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Rheumatology, faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karataş gave information about rheumatoid arthritis disease. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karataş stated that inflammatory joint rheumatism disease known as rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common rheumatologic diseases in the world and in Turkey and emphasized that this disease develops pain and swelling especially in the hand, finger joints, wrist and elbows. Do. Prof. Dr. Karataş noted that in addition to this, in some elderly patients, pain and swelling in the foot and knee areas can sometimes occur with symptoms such as redness and that it is important for patients with such symptoms to apply to the rheumatology department. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karataş stated that rheumatoid arthritis disease pain can cause stiffness in patients, especially when they get up in the morning, and that this stiffness can continue for approximately thirty minutes or an hour, and that people who encounter such pain and stiffness should contact the nearest health institution. Pointing out the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Karataş underlined that patients can be diagnosed after various laboratory tests and clinical examinations are performed and that it is important to start treatment very quickly for patients who are diagnosed, otherwise, when the diagnosis is delayed for more than six months in the treatment, patients may have some complications such as serious joint problems and deterioration in quality of life in the future.