Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Though body stiffness is quite a common feature in arthritis, morning stiffness that continues for an hour at any rate is quite a trademark characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis unlike osteoarthritis in which, body stiffness doesn’t last more than half an hour. However, the body can stiffen even if one is static and unmoving whereas it becomes easy to move once it loosens up.

Inflammation and Pain

It is quite normal for one to undergo pain and inflammation in the joints before a diagnosis for rheumatic arthritis is even considered. When touched on their swollen joints patients would feel some warmth in addition to something watery. Though pain arises on a symmetrical manner, one side of the body that is used by the person to a large extent faces more pain regularly.

Specific Joints Affected

Albeit wrists and knuckles, knees along with the joints of the ball present in the foot are centrally affected, specific joints such as the shoulders, tips, elbows, cervical spine, even the small bones inside the human ear and temporomandibular joint (jaw) are also vulnerable. Though it doesn’t have an impact in the fingertips as osteoarthritis, pain in the base of the fingers is quite felt.

Nodules

Around 20% of those with RA can experience formation of small bumps or lumps under the skin caused due to inflammation of blood vessels called as nodules. With its size identical to a pea or something that is slightly bigger, they are usually found near the elbow nevertheless their appearance is not restricted to this region. If they are in any part of the body where stress is quite common viz. the ankles, these nodules may get uncomfortable and infected and this may happen all the way through the course of this disorder. Very rarely, this leads to rheumatoid vasculitis, a state which could have a severe impact on the blood vessels of kidneys, lungs or any other organs.

Increase in Fluid

Ankles may be a spot for fluid to form and in quite a few cases, Knees happen to be the position of fluid formation, a condition typically recognized as a Baker Cyst. Like a tumor in shape, this runs down till the rear side of the calf thus producing pain. Usually people without RA acquire Baker Cyst.

Flu-Like Symptoms

RA may be accompanied by several signs like weight loss, fatigue and fever. Many relate these to the symptoms arising due to common cold however these things just don’t disappear gradually.

Symptoms in Children

In children, high fever and shivering accompanied by pan and swelling in several joints precedes the Juvenile RA also known as Still’s disease. Also, rashes in pink skin color might come about.