Symptoms

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

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

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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