Emergency hospital visits for severe rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease that can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in multiple joints. If you are experiencing symptoms of RA, it's essential to speak with a primary care provider (PCP) for proper diagnosis and treatment.
If you have not received a diagnosis for your symptoms, your doctor may run some tests to determine the cause. In the meantime, if you experience severe inflammation accompanied by fever, intractable pain, or inability to care for yourself or perform activities of daily living, it is necessary to seek emergency care.
Similarly, if you are on immunosuppressive treatments and show signs of infection, emergency care may be required. Systemic complications related to RA, such as lung or kidney disease, or severe vasculitis, also warrant emergency attention. Additionally, significant functional impairment making the patient unsafe to be discharged may necessitate inpatient admission for further investigation or management.
Warning signs that warrant immediate attention include sudden severe joint pain or swelling, persistent fever, unexplained symptoms, or neurological/vision changes.
Mild to moderate flare-ups without these complications are generally managed with symptomatic treatments such as analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) under outpatient care.
In general, people with RA should consider seeking urgent care if their joints become swollen and red, they experience a rash accompanied by a high fever, they have sudden, severe abdominal pain, they experience sudden pain in the spinal cord area, which could be a sign of a vertebral fracture, or they experience a severe RA flare.
Remember, emergency rooms focus on treating sudden, severe, and life-threatening conditions. It is crucial to understand when to seek emergency care for RA flare-ups to ensure timely and appropriate treatment.
[1] Emergency room visits for RA patients experiencing flare-ups are necessary when symptoms are severe or complicated. [2] Warning signs that warrant immediate attention include sudden severe joint pain or swelling, persistent fever, unexplained symptoms, or neurological/vision changes.
[3] For proper diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it's essential to consult a primary care provider (PCP).[4] If not yet diagnosed, your doctor may conduct tests to identify the cause of your symptoms.[5] If you are on immunosuppressive treatments and exhibit signs of infection, emergency care might be required.[6] Systemic complications like lung or kidney disease, severe vasculitis, or inability to perform daily activities might warrant inpatient admission.[7] Mild to moderate flare-ups can be managed with symptomatic treatments like analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) under outpatient care.[8] As a person with RA, consider seeking urgent care when joints become swollen and red, there's a rash accompanied by a high fever, or sudden, severe abdominal pain occurs.[9] In the context of health and wellness, fitness, exercise, mental health, sexual health, men's health, women's health, skin care, therapies, and treatments, timely identification and management of RA are vital.[10] Aging individuals should also be aware of the importance of diagnosing and treating RA early to maintain their quality of life and prevent the onset of chronic diseases.[11] For those dealing with RA, it's crucial to be aware of Medicare benefits that may help cover the costs associated with RA diagnosis and treatment, such as CBD products and other approved therapies.
