Research shows that people with RA are about 70% more likely to develop a gastrointestinal problem than people without RA. There are several culprits. While medication side effects are the most likely offender, an increased risk of infection or unchecked inflammation can also be the cause.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
People with arthritis frequently experience issues with bladder and bowel control. Arthritis does not directly affect the bladder or bowel for most people. It is the loss of mobility and joint stiffness that prevents a person from being able to move quickly enough to get to the toilet on time and manage their clothing.
Functional incontinence is therefore the most commonly associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis, as it can cause mobility problems. This can result in people getting to the toilet too late.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that mainly affects a person's joints. However, RA can also cause symptoms that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) system, such as nausea, indigestion, and abdominal pain.
Research shows patients with RA have a higher chance of developing conditions like IBS and other IBDs such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. On top of abdominal pain, you might also experience bloody stools, diarrhea, fatigue, and reduced appetite.
Arthritis means inflammation of joints. Inflammation is a body process that can result in pain, swelling, warmth, redness and stiffness. Sometimes inflammation can also affect the bowel.
In end-stage RA, people may still experience pain, swelling, stiffness, and mobility loss. There may be lower muscle strength. The joints may experience destruction, and the bones may fuse (ankylosis).
Scientists have suspected for some time that the gut microbiome plays a role in rheumatoid arthritis, as well as many other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The enormous population of microbes help digest food, regulate the immune system and protect against pathogenic bacteria.
Over time, the inflammation can cause severe pain, diarrhea, and sometimes bloody stool. IBD symptoms come and go in episodes or flares. Because of the inflammation in your digestive system from IBD, your body cannot absorb all of the nutrients it needs.
Aside from joint symptoms, stomach bloating and other gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as constipation and diarrhea are prevalent among people with RA.
Stomach Pain or Indigestion
RA and medicines used to treat it are linked to mouth and stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding, acid reflux, diarrhea, and constipation. Painful diverticulitis (inflamed pouches in your GI tract) and colitis (an inflamed colon) are also possible if you have RA.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic found people with RA report higher rates of stomach ulcers, bleeding, and esophagitis (inflammation and swelling of the esophagus) in the upper GI tract, and perforations (holes), bleeding, bowel inflammation, and infections in the lower GI tract.
“Dry eye is one of the most common complications of rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr. Kumthekar. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis also have another autoimmune disease called Sjögren's syndrome, in which your immune system attacks moisture-producing cells like the salivary and tear glands, causing dry eye.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by the presence of an inflammatory synovitis accompanied by destruction of joint cartilage and bone. Destruction of cartilage matrix results predominantly from the action of connective tissue proteinases released by RA synovial tissues, chondrocytes, and pannus tissue.
End-stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an advanced stage of disease in which there is severe joint damage and destruction in the absence of ongoing inflammation.
It's possible to live a long life with RA, but it is estimated that the disease can potentially reduce life expectancy by 3 to 10 years.
Probiotics may be highly beneficial if you have inflammatory arthritis [38,39]. The good bacteria seem to provide an impact on the treatment, lowering common inflammatory indicators such as C-reactive protein (CRP).
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Crohn's Disease. Ulcerative Colitis.
People with inflammatory arthritis also have higher rates of abdominal pain, bloating, trouble swallowing, and nausea.