| Did you know that there are 100 types of Rheumatoid | | | | joint stiffness may also occur and in severe cases, the |
| Arthritis? Here is a symptom overview. | | | | affected joints may suffer from a loss of range of |
| The main symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is when you | | | | motion, lose its flexibility and even get deformed. |
| feel your joints are stiff when you wake up in the | | | | In addition to joint symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis can |
| morning usually in the hands or feet. If you feel stiff in | | | | show signs throughout the body. These include: |
| the affected areas for more than an hour or develop | | | | - Extreme fatigue where patients will feel excessively |
| swelling and pain which lasts for longer than six weeks, | | | | tired, lacking of energy, weak or a feeling of malaise. |
| it could be a symptom of this. Usually, if the hands feel | | | | - A loss of appetite. |
| stiff so will the feet and vice versa. Joint pain can also | | | | - Weight loss; sometimes unexplained. |
| be an early sign of other diseases. Symptoms of | | | | - Mild or low-grade fever which is usually not specific. |
| rheumatoid arthritis usually begin slowly over a period | | | | - Numb and tingling sensations felt in the hands. |
| of weeks or months. | | | | - Anemia |
| The joints will feel painful, swollen, tender and stiff. | | | | - Fluid accumulating behind the knee or in the ankles. |
| Other similar joints on either side of the body will feel | | | | - Crepitus also known as creaky or popping joints |
| similar pain as well for example, hands, wrists, elbows, | | | | Rheumatoid arthritis can also inflict children and their |
| feet, knees and neck. Stiff joints can also be felt after | | | | symptoms may include shaking chills and a pink rash |
| sleeping or sitting for a long period of time and may | | | | may result from the usual stiff, painful and swollen |
| last an hour up to several hours long. | | | | joints. |
| Pea-sized bumps or lumps called rheumatoid nodules | | | | There are more than 100 different types and diagnosis |
| may develop in some people who have rheumatoid | | | | of rheumatoid arthritis and you could suffer from one |
| arthritis. These are usually formed around the elbows, | | | | or more of them. Do see a doctor to assess your |
| knuckles, spine and lower leg bones where the | | | | medical history, having a physical check-up, taking |
| pressure points in the body is. | | | | x-rays and other specific laboratory tests to determine |
| The pain may also be aggravated by activity or | | | | your exact diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. |
| movement of the joints, such as walking, getting up | | | | For patients, there is hope though as there are real |
| from a chair, typing, writing, holding or throwing an | | | | people who cured themselves of rheumatoid arthritis. |
| object and even turning a key. Inflammation caused by | | | | |