The Most Common Symptoms for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that most commonly affects the feet and hands. The following are some of the most common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis.

Pain

The pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints, usually the smaller ones first. These smaller joints are found in the feet, hands, wrists and ankles.

Later, as rheumatoid arthritis progresses, larger joints such as the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees are affected. Commonly, both sides of the body are affected at the same time. This means it can be expected if pain occurs in the right hip, it will also occur in the left.

One feature of this pain is that it comes and goes. This means that sometimes it may not be present at all, while other times it can feel unbearable. At other times, it can vary in intensity, sometimes feeling mild and other times feeling more intense, but still bearable.

Swelling and Puffiness

When a rheumatoid arthritis flare up occurs, swelling and puffiness can appear. The hands may become puffy and red, while joints may become swollen. As with pain, the swelling will likely occur in the joints on both sides of the body, rather than just in one area such as in one hand or one hip.

Stiffness

Stiffness can occur in the joints at any time, but it most commonly occurs first thing in the morning and can last for several hours. This stiffness can present as an all-over stiffness of the body.

Tenderness

When flared up, the affected joints may feel tender to the touch. This may or may not accompany other symptoms such as pain or swelling.

Weight Loss

Weight loss is one of the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. If concerned about this symptom, a physician should be consulted as to any measures that may be taken to help.

Rheumatoid Nodules

Rheumatoid nodules are bumps that appear under the skin of the arms. These nodules are firm and made of tissue.

Fever

When a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up occurs, it may be accompanied by a fever. This may not occur every time, but if it does occur, it may not be anything to become alarmed about. If it becomes very high or lasts too long, a doctor should be consulted.

Fatigue

During a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up, it is common for fatigue to be present. The fatigue can be mild or severe and may be long-lasting or short-term. The treating physician may offer some tips for treating the fatigue to the patient. Some medications can make symptoms of fatigue seem worse, so if that happens, the physician should be consulted to see if another option is available.

References

Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mayo Clinic Staff. November 3, 2009. https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00020

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Medline Plus. U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes for Health. Last Updated August 24, 2010. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rheumatoidarthritis.html