This condition commonly affects joints throughout the body, breaking down soft tissues, such as ligaments and cartilage.
However, RA can also cause bone erosion.
What Is Bone Erosion From RA?
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Bone erosion is a gradual loss of bone that occurs from inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis.
Bone erosion can show up as early as the first couple of months after diagnosis.
About 60% of people with RA have bone erosion after one year.
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RA causes inflammation of connective tissue in joints called thesynovial membrane.
The membrane grows larger and causes breakdown ofcartilage(padding between bones in the joint) and bone erosion.
Overactivity of cells called osteoclasts is responsible for bone erosion in RA.
There aren’t any “unique” symptoms for bone erosion.
Imaging is often used to assess joint damage with RA, including bone erosion.
How Is Bone Erosion Managed?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent bone erosion from occurring with rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment for bone erosion begins with targeting youroveractive immune system, which is causing joint inflammation.
However, bone erosion from RA cannot be fully reversed.
Biologic DMARDsare made from proteins in human genes.
These medications target specific cells in your immune system and have been shown to help partially repair bone erosion.
Tips for Joint Protection
Joint protection principles can help make life easier with bone erosion from RA.
Consider seeing aphysicalor occupational therapist for individualized interventions.
Bone erosion is not preventable, but treatment can help slow the progression of damage to your joints.
Treatment includes medications that target your immune system and joint protection strategies to help reduce symptoms.
Bone erosion is the breakdown of bone that occurs from excess inflammation in your joints.
This is a common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis.
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