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Common Symptoms |
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Affected joints are:
Inflamed
Warm
Red
Swollen
Painful
Stiff
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Symptoms
The immune system's attack on the joints causes inflammation, which a person with RA notices as warmth, redness, swelling and pain in or around the affected joints. As the disease progresses, the bone and cartilage within the joint is destroyed, and the muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding and supporting the joint become weak and unable to function normally. All these effects lead to the pain and deformities often seen in RA.
The more common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Inflammation, warmth, redness, swelling and pain in or around the affected joints.
- Joint stiffness in the morning (or after a long rest) lasting longer than 30 minutes.
- Possible fatigue, occasional fever and an overall sense of not feeling well.
RA usually first appears in people between ages 25 and 50, but can occur in young children and even small babies. The disorder may develop quickly after the first symptoms appear, over a period of weeks or months. It typically causes inflammation of the joints and usually involves the joints on both sides of the body. Many joints may be affected. Patients may have a sense of overall sickness and fatigue, and may experience fever and weight loss. Morning joint stiffness may be prolonged.
More on Rheumatoid Arthritis What Is Arthritis?
In the Encyclopedia:
Rheumatoid arthritis
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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