While early signs and symptoms of RA can be mimicked by other diseases, the warning signs and symptoms are very characteristic of rheumatoid disease.Source: Getty Images
Things to know about early signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
While early signs and symptoms of RA can be mimicked by other diseases, the warning signs and symptoms are very characteristic of rheumatoid disease. The 16 early RA symptoms and signs discussed in this article include the following:
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Joint tenderness
- Joint swelling
- Joint redness
- Joint warmth
- Joint stiffness
- Loss of joint range of motion
- Many joints affected (polyarthritis)
- Limping
- Joint deformity
- Both sides of the body affected (symmetric)
- Loss of joint function
- Anemia
- Fever
- Depression
What Are Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Options?
- There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
- To date, the goal of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce joint inflammation and pain,
maximize joint function, and prevent joint destruction and deformity. - Early medical intervention has been shown to be important in improving outcomes.
- Aggressive management can improve function, stop damage to joints as monitored on X-rays, and prevent work disability.
- Optimal RA treatment involves a combination of medicines, rest, joint-strengthening exercises, joint protection, and patient (and family) education.
- Treatment is customized according to many factors such as disease activity, types of joints involved, general health, age, and patient occupation.
- RA treatment is most successful when there is close cooperation between the doctor, patient, and family members.
Read more about rheumatoid arthritis treatment and RA medication »
A woman suffers hand pain due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Source: Getty Images
What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease.
- RA disease is characterized by chronic joint inflammation.
- Rheumatoid arthritis in the knee, hands, fingers, and feet is common.
- RA may also be called rheumatoid disease because at times rheumatoid arthritis causes systemic illness that impacts many organs of the body.
- Chronic inflammation of RA can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.
Fatigue is a common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Source: Getty Images
Fatigue
Fatigue is a very common symptom in all stages of rheumatoid arthritis, particularly when the joint inflammation is active. Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis can be caused by the body's reaction to inflammation, poor sleep, anemia, and medications.
The fatigue of rheumatoid arthritis that results in a lack of energy can adversely affect emotions and mood, occupation, relationships with people, sex drive, productivity, attentiveness, creativity, and happiness.
- Fatigue from rheumatoid arthritis can also be associated with other symptoms and signs, such as poor appetite and weight loss.
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A woman’s hands show swollen finger joints due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Source: iStock
Joint swelling
Swollen joints are very common in rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes the joint swelling is minimal and can be difficult to appreciate. Other times the joint swelling is very apparent. Generally, people who are affected by rheumatoid arthritis can easily tell when their joints are swollen.
- The joint swelling can lead to loss of range of motion of the joint.
- Joint swelling in the fingers can make it hard to get rings off and on easily.
Red, inflamed toe joints may indicate rheumatoid arthritis.Source: Getty Images
Joint redness
Redness occurs over joints when they are inflamed. The redness in the skin over an inflamed joint from rheumatoid arthritis occurs because the capillaries of that skin are widened by the adjacent inflammation. These widened capillaries are referred to as dilated capillaries.
- Joint redness does not occur in all inflamed joints from rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sometimes the inflammation in the joint is inadequate to cause the capillaries in the skin to dilate.
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A doctor examines a patient for joint warmth, a symptom of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammation.Source: Getty Images
Joint warmth
The warmth of the joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis is a sign of active inflammation. Doctors look for joint warmth as they monitor the activity of the disease. As rheumatoid arthritis responds to treatment, joint warmth resolves.
- Sometimes joint warmth is present without visible joint swelling or redness.
Joint stiffness may be a result of RA pain.Source: Getty Images
Joint stiffness
Stiffness is a typical rheumatoid arthritis symptom. Joints that are affected by active rheumatoid arthritis are inflamed and characteristically stiffer in the morning than later in the day. Doctors use the duration of the morning stiffness as a measure of the severity of the active joint inflammation.
- As rheumatoid arthritis responds to treatment, the duration of the morning joint stiffness diminishes.
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![Fever may occur when RA is causing inflammation.]()
Fever may occur when RA is causing inflammation.Source: N/AFever
Fever, while not common in rheumatoid arthritis, does occur in some patients when the disease is actively causing inflammation. Typically, there is only mild low-grade temperature elevation and this corrects rapidly as the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis is treated.
Because patients with rheumatoid arthritis frequently require medications that can decrease the normal immune response, it is important that when they develop fever, infection is considered as a possible cause.
- Infections can require aggressive treatment and interruption of some underlying rheumatoid treatments.
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![Depression]()
Because rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition potentially associated with pain and disability, it can lead to depression.Source: N/ADepression
Because rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition potentially associated with pain and disability, it can lead to depression. A person with rheumatoid arthritis can commonly feel frustrated, but it can also lead to real depression with sadness, hopelessness, and a blue mood that goes beyond frustration. Doctors refer to this form of mood change as "reactive depression" because it is a person's response to a particular situation, in this case, a new chronic disease.
- When patients feel depressed, regardless of cause, it is essential to share their feelings with their healthcare provider.
- Over time, this can lead to a much healthier understanding of their bodies and improvement and resolution of their depression.
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![Initially, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may affect one joint or a few joints.]()
Initially, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may affect one joint or a few joints.Source: N/AWhat are the less common forms of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis can begin in less common forms. For example, it can begin with the involvement of only a single joint or a few joints. Sometimes, this can later evolve to the more common presentation of many joints on both sides of the body.
- Rarely, the earliest symptom of rheumatoid disease is inflammation of a body area that does not even involve a joint. For example, the lining of the lungs (pleura) can become inflamed to cause pleurisy many months before arthritis develops.
- Occasionally, only a few joints are involved and the doctor may suspect another type of inflammatory arthritis. (There are over 100 forms of arthritis!) Again, this can sometimes only later evolve to become the more typical symmetrical polyarthritis by including many joints on both sides of the body.
- The caveat is that by recognizing the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis rheumatologists and their patients can address the disease early, thereby affording optimal outcomes for those affected.
![12 Early Signs of Arthritis in Hands]()
Hand arthritis results from wear and tear on the joints of the hands.Source: N/A12 Early Signs of Arthritis in Hands
A joint is the area where two bones meet. Within joints is a tissue called cartilage that acts as a cushion between two bony surfaces. Synovial fluid within joints protects them and helps facilitate movement. Synovial fluid is secreted by the inner lining of the joint called the synovial membrane. Hand arthritis occurs when there is inflammation in one or more joints of the hand and wrist. There are over 100 types of arthritis. A few of the common types of arthritis that affect the hands are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis (arthritis as a result of an injury), psoriatic arthritis and gout. The two most common types of arthritis that affect the hands are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Hand osteoarthritis occurs when there is wear and tear of one or more joints of the hand as seen with increasing age. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the joints of the hand.
Read more about 12 Early Signs of Arthritis in Hands »
![14 Early Signs of Arthritis in the Legs]()
Arthritis in the legs may affect the hips, knees, ankles, or feet.Source: N/A14 Early Signs of Arthritis in the Legs
The term arthritis refers to redness and swelling of the joints characterized by joint pain and stiffness. A joint is the area where two bones meet. The two bones at the site of the joint are separated by a cushioning tissue called the cartilage that protects the joint and facilitates proper movement. The joint space is lined by the synovial membrane that secretes a fluid called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid lubricates and protects the joints to allow for adequate movement. Arthritis may result when any of the joint structures are damaged. Leg arthritis affects the joints of the hips, knees, ankles, or feet. There are over 100 types of arthritis. The most common types of arthritis affecting the legs are
- Osteoarthritis: This is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs due to wear and tear of the joint cartilage that happens with increasing age.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: In this type of arthritis, the body’s immune system attacks and damages the joints.
- Gout: This occurs due to excessive deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints, which causes joint inflammation.
- Septic arthritis: This refers to arthritis that occurs as a result of joint infection.
- Post-traumatic arthritis: This type of arthritis results because of injury or after a surgery or other invasive procedure on the joint.
- Psoriatic arthritis: People who suffer from a long-term skin condition, psoriasis, may develop psoriatic arthritis along with the skin manifestations such as plaques.
