Some patients develop Sj gren s syndrome, characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth. Eye irritation, difficulty swallowing and difficulty talking add to the misery of joint pain and deformity. Many people with advanced RA have neck involvement, which causes pain and difficulty moving or turning their head. There is a danger that one of the neck vertebrae may slip into the spinal canal, causing compression of the spinal cord. Loss of feeling in your arms and legs and paralysis can result.
Many patients have mild anemia.
Anemia may be secondary to drug therapy, or may be related to the inflammatory process. The white cell and platelet counts are often elevated during periods of active inflammation. Your medical history and a physical exam are the most important. Certain physical, laboratory and radiographic tests confirm the diagnosis and exclude other diseases. RA is just one of several types of arthritis.