Delays in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can lead to irreversible joint damage, reports a publication of the Arthritis Foundation.
According to the foundation journal Arthritis Today, researchers at the Boston University Multipurpose Arthritis Center found the median time between the start of symptoms and a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis to be nine months, "which isn't fast enough to benefit from early treatment thought to help prevent the initial joint damage that may take place."The delay in diagnosis, the foundation notes, is attributed to both the patient's delay in seeking treatment and to even longer delays in diagnosis by the physician.
Early warning signs of arthritis include lingering joint pain, stiffness and limited movement.