Rheumatoid Arthritis
Alternate Names : RA
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?
Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness that is especially severe
and prolonged in the morning are the most common symptoms of
RA. The same joint on both sides of the body is usually involved, and RA most
often starts in the hands or feet. However, the problems may move from one joint to
another. Usually many joints throughout the body are affected at the same time.
Because RA is a disease that can affect the whole body, the person
may have other symptoms:
fatigue
a vague feeling of illness called malaise
occasional fever
loss of appetite
loss of energy
lumps of tissue under the skin called rheumatoid nodules, often over bony areas
exposed to pressure (especially near the elbow)
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