The aging process brings many unpleasant things, like developing
poor eyesight, feeling sore and achy in the morning and having thick,
unsightly toenails thanks to nail fungus. It can also bring mysterious
symptoms that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Morning soreness and
stiffness is pretty common, but what if you wake up with a burning or
tingling sensation in your feet or hands? That could be a sign of
something more serious that you really should see your doctor about.
This
tingling sensation is one of the many symptoms associated with
rheumatoid arthritis. This is a bit different from osteoarthritis, which
occurs when your joints experience wear and tear with age. Rheumatoid
arthritis is actually a long-term autoimmune condition that develops
when your immune system sees healthy tissue as an enemy and attacks it.
With rheumatoid arthritis, this ends up causing inflammation in the
joints and the tissues around the joints. In more serious cases, it can
lead to inflammation in the organs as well. You don't necessarily have
to be older to get this condition, but it does tend to occur more in
people, especially women, who are middle aged or older. No one knows
exactly what causes rheumatoid arthritis, but it might have something do
with genetics, hormonal changes or infections.
A tingling
sensation in your feet or hands usually isn't the first sign of this
condition. You might have experienced earlier signs of it without
realizing it. The first signs of rheumatoid arthritis are typically mild
pain and stiffness in the joints in certain areas on both sides of your
body, like your feet, fingers, knees or wrists. Your joints might also
feel a little warm to the touch when you first wake up. The pain and
stiffness usually lasts for about an hour in the morning. Fatigue is
also another early sign of this condition. Tingling and burning can
gradually develop over time, as well as chest pain when you're breathing
in, burning or itchy eyes, trouble sleeping and a dry mouth and eyes.
Making
an appointment with your doctor is very important since rheumatoid
arthritis needs to be carefully managed in order to avoid serious
complications, such as organ inflammation and permanent joint damage.
Your doctor will run tests to see if you have this condition. If so,
your doctor will recommend a treatment plan, which generally includes
antirheumatic or anti-inflammatory medication, regular exercise and
physical therapy. Even if you haven't experienced any of the other
symptoms of this condition, it's still a good idea to make an
appointment with your doctor. This kind of tingling can also be caused
by other conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes and
nerve disorders.
Having a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
doesn't mean you're doomed to a life full of joint pain. The earlier you
start managing this condition, the better off you'll feel overall. So,
don't ignore that morning tingling in your hands or feet. Set up an
appointment with your doctor, so you won't have to keep worrying about
what's causing it.
