Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Joint symptoms usually involve three or more joints. The most commonly affected joints are the wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles.
Inflamed Joint
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Joint symptoms include:
- Increased pain and stiffness in the morning and after inactivity
- Morning stiffness and pain that lasts more than 30 minutes
- Pain and stiffness symmetrically (that is, both feet or both hands are affected, as opposed to only one)
- Red, swollen, warm joints
- Deformed, misshapen joints
Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Intense fatigue, decreased energy
- Muscle aches
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever and sweats
- Depression
- Problems sleeping
- Anemia
- Bumps occurring under the skin (rheumatoid nodules)
- Inflamed blood vessels
- Bleeding stomach ulcers
- Inflammation of the heart’s sac ( pericarditis)
- Inflammation of the heart muscle ( myocarditis)
- Lung problems
- Eye problems
REFERENCES:
Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .
Ferri F, ed. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2010 . 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2009.
Firestein ED, et al. Kelley’s Textbook of Rheumatology . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2008.
Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Textbook of Internal Medicine . 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2008.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .
Last reviewed September 2011 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Last Updated: 9/22/2011
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