What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

A chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis has various recognizable symptoms. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these symptoms so that if you develop any then you can seek professional medical advice as early as possible. Catching arthritis in the early stages is key to long term prevention as there is currently no known cure.

If you are diagnosed with a disease such as arthritis, then prompt treatment is essential to prevent progression of the disease throughout the body. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

There are several Arthritis symptoms that can be attributed to all types of arthritis, most notably pain, but it is important to remember that there are over 100 forms of arthritis known and each one can have slightly different symptoms. Knowing what rheumatoid arthritis symptoms to look out for can help you get a quick diagnosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are a lot harder to identify than in other arthritis diseases due to their complex subtlety. However, rheumatoid arthritis is most commonly found in joints of the hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet.

Another symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is stiffness. This is the stiffness of your joints not being able to move as fluidly as they once could, especially true if you have a sever form of the condition. The stiffness can come upon you at any time of the day or night but is most commonly reported early in the morning.

Another common rheumatoid arthritis symptom is inflammation. This manifests itself in the form of a redness, a warmth or swelling around the joint that is often found at the start of the disease. Nodules may also be present at the onset. Another symptom, probably most closely related to arthritis, is pain. Pain in this disease can come from a number of sources but most primarily from the inflammation and swelling of the joints.

Possible fatigue, malaise, fever, weight loss, loss of appetite and weakness may also start to show. If you notice any of these symptoms in your own body, especially a combination of them, you should make arrangements ot speak to your doctor as soon as possible. The key top treating arthritis is first and foremost in prevention so it is important to get a hold of it at the early stages to prevent the disease from worsening and progressing. A prompt diagnosis will result in a prompt course of treatment which could save you years of discomfort and pain.