Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can cause irreversible damage to the joints andconnective tissue. For reasons unknown, the immune system of a person with rheumatoid arthritis begins to attack the cells that line the joints of the body resulting in tissue damage and deformity. The damage to the joint tissues causing painful swelling and can be quite debilitating. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the hands, wrists, and feet. However, in severe cases, other tissues in the body may be attacked by the immune system and cause problems in other organs (i.e., eyes, heart, and lungs). Women are two-to-three times more likely to be diagnosed with RA and your risk of getting RA increases with age. If the disease is caught early, the progression of the disease can be slowed down to prevent joint deformity and help to reduce pain and disability.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you will notice that there are times when your symptoms get worse and then better. The times when your symptoms get worse are called flares. A remission is when you notice your symptoms have improved. The most common symptoms of RA are marked swelling, pain, and stiffness in more than one joint in the body. The aching pain and swelling may occur symmetrically or on both sides of the body, like in your hands or knees. Other symptoms of RA include:
- Fatigue
- Fever (low-grade)
- Feeling unwell or tired
- Soreness around joints and muscles
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss
- Lumpy growths under the skin (i.e., elbows, hands, or feet)
- Reduced ability to move joints
- Redness or warmth over joints
- Joint stiffness in the morning