The Early Warning Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs in different joints of the body. Parts like the neck, shoulder, or the base of the head are usually affected by this. The early signs of rheumatoid arthritis are: Headaches As the brain and spine are situated in the neck and shoulder region, the signs of rheumatoid arthritis can first be noticed there. People with early-onset of RA experience headaches, such as cluster headache or migraines. These headaches occur on one side of the head, making certain movements difficult. The pain of these types of cervicogenic headaches originate in the neck, namely the first and second vertebrae. The effects of which are felt in the temple or forehead. Swelling One of the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis is swelling in the neck region. The neck joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis get full of fluids, causing them to swell. This causes pain in the joint due to the erosion in the bone of the shoulder joints. Warmth The joints in the shoulders and neck look slightly red and feel warm. Spinal cord compression This phenomenon occurs if the mesh of the spinal cord and nerve roots gets pressured by the vertebrae. This reduces the amount of oxygen traveling to the brain due to the blockage of the vertebral arteries in the lower head region.