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Getting a Grip on Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects mostly women. It occurs when for a host of reasons the body's immune system short-circuits and starts attacking its own tissues. In this case, the synovium or joint lining is affected, causing inflammation and pain. Recognizing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is important in order to get the best treatment at the earliest possible time.

The disease can affect several joints at a time and it can occur bilaterally or symmetrically, meaning it can appear in joints in both sides of the body -- for instance, in the left and right wrists or the left and right ankles. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are not the same in every case; they can vary from patient to patient, with differing degrees of severity and length of occurrence. Some patients suffer brief periods of flare-ups and then go into remission, while others experience pain and inflammation for extended periods of time.

As patients routinely attest, the earliest and most common sign of rheumatoid arthritis is a feeling of joint stiffness upon waking in the morning. This is usually felt in the hands or the feet, and it commonly lasts for an hour or more. Feeling pain in addition to stiffness is also characteristic of the disease. These symptoms are not only felt upon waking up in the morning; they can also occur after a long period of rest or inactivity, such as a lengthy car ride or when getting up after watching a movie. In addition, the affected joints start to feel sore or tender to the touch and the skin covering the joint will appear red and inflamed.

As the disease progresses, the patient may start to experience a reduced range of motion in the body part that is affected. Small pea-like bumps or nodules may also start to appear beneath the skin (although these lumps are usually painless). The disease can also cause inflammation in other areas of the body aside from the joints: the glands of the mouth and eyes, the lungs, the pericardium, and the blood vessels. Left untreated, the inflammation of these organs can lead to severe complications and even death.

Women and men who are at risk for this disease should keep a vigilant eye out for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Doing so will give allow them to determine the best course to keep the pain and inflammation at bay and to plan the most appropriate disease management strategy.