| What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? Each | | | | Over time, even resting and remaining motionless for |
| person seems to experience RA differently. | | | | just a few minutes will cause stiffness. Range of |
| Sometimes the onset is sudden, other times it can be | | | | motion of the affected joints will also be reduced. Tiny |
| very gradual. Almost all RA cases involve flare-ups | | | | bumps called nodules may also occur around the joints |
| and remissions - alternating stages of chronic pain | | | | - these are caused by swollen blood vessels. |
| followed by no symptoms at all. Over time, however, | | | | Over time, symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis become |
| flare-ups become more severe and remissions | | | | increasingly debilitating. Hand and foot deformities are |
| become few and far between. | | | | common, as well as eye problems such as itching and |
| One of the main symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is | | | | burning. Numbness of the skin, chronic fever, swollen |
| joint pain, particularly in the smaller joints of the hands, | | | | glands, and paleness frequently occur. Anemia is |
| wrists, and feet. This joint pain is usually symmetrical, | | | | another common symptom, caused by the failure of |
| meaning it affects both sides of the body (both hands | | | | bone marrow to produce enough red blood cells. |
| instead of just one, for instance). The painful areas are | | | | Occasionally, damage to the lungs and spinal chord |
| often red, swollen, and tender to the touch. One of the | | | | may occur, as well as rheumatoid vasculitis, which is |
| early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is fever, fatigue, | | | | inflammation of the blood vessels. Rheumatoid |
| and flu-like symptoms accompanied by aches and | | | | vasculitis can lead to skin ulcers, infections, and tingling |
| pains all over. | | | | numbness. In rare cases, the brain and heart can be |
| Additionally, almost all RA sufferers will experience | | | | affected, leading to stroke or heart attack. |
| morning stiffness that lasts an hour or more each day. | | | | |