If you suffer from recurring stiffness, pain, and swelling in your joints, especially in your hands and knees, rheumatoid arthritis could be the culprit. Although the condition typically comes and goes, it is important to detect and diagnose it as early as possible to slow its progression before it reaches a point where the pain prevents you from going about your day as you’d like.

Our handy rheumatoid arthritis guide delves into what the condition actually is, how it may affect you, what its typical signs and symptoms are, as well as how to diagnose and treat it.

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What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the lining of your joints, which leads to inflammation. This inflammation can then result in pain, stiffness, swelling, and other, even more severe symptoms.

Types of rheumatoid arthritis

There are two main types of rheumatoid arthritis:

• Rheumatoid factor positive aka seropositive RA
• Rheumatoid factor negative aka seronegative RA

The difference between the two is whether rheumatoid factor, a special protein, or certain antibodies can be found in the blood (seropositive RA) or not (seronegative RA). Most rheumatoid arthritis cases are seropositive, while seronegative cases are typically milder, cause fewer flare-ups, and progress slower.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are:

• stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity
• tenderness or pain in the joints
• swelling around the affected areas, especially in the fingers and knees
• fever
• fatigue/weakness
• loss of appetite/weight loss

The symptoms usually come and go. In seropositive RA, they are also typically found on both sides of the body at the same time, meaning it’s likely that both knees, hands, etc. are affected simultaneously.

Unusual symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

The inflammation that comes with rheumatoid arthritis may sometimes also affect other areas of the body and lead to symptoms that may not seem immediately related to the condition. These include:

• skin rashes
• dry eyes and resulting vision problems
• hearing problems
• chest pain or trouble breathing, if the heart and/or lungs are affected
• numbness or tingling, if blood vessels or nerves are affected
• kidney issues
• gum disease
• snoring

Living with a lifelong condition such as rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult, especially without other people to lean upon. By joining Carecircle.org, you can become part of a free, international community full of fellow patients who know what you’re going through, and who’ll gladly share their experiences with you and support you on your own RA journey.

Rheumatoid arthritis stages

Rheumatoid arthritis usually progresses in four stages. However, not every person with RA will progress through them at an equal pace. RA patients may often remain in the same stage for years or not progress to further stages at all. The four stages of rheumatoid arthritis are:

Stage I RA

RA very often starts in the hands or sometimes knees. In its first stage, the inflammation is limited to the joint lining of the affected joints, such as the fingers or wrists. The main symptoms in this stage are tenderness or pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling.

Stage II RA

In stage II, the inflammation spreads to the cartilage of the joints, the softer material covering the ends of the bones meeting in the joint. The symptoms of stage I become more severe and can be accompanied by a temporary loss of or limited mobility in the affected joints.

Stage III RA

When the inflammation and subsequent damage spread to the bone, the condition has entered stage III. Adding to aggravated symptoms of previous stages, stage III may cause weakness in the affected joints/limbs, and lead to permanent bone damage and resulting deformities.

Stage IV RA

The final and most severe stage of rheumatoid arthritis is stage IV. In this stage, the inflammation has ceased, but the joints, cartilage and bones have suffered enough damage to no longer function. Bones may fuse together and cause total loss of mobility and severe deformities.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis

As is the case with many autoimmune diseases, the exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are currently unknown. Most researchers believe that certain genes or gene combinations carry a potential for the condition, which may then be triggered by external factors, such as certain infections, physical trauma, or emotional stress.

Risk factors that seem to contribute to the probability of developing RA include:

• carrying certain genes, especially HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class II genotypes
• a higher age: rheumatoid arthritis can develop at any age, but most cases occur in people aged 60 or older
• biological sex: RA is up to three times as common in biological females
• smoking, including passive smoking
• obesity
• never having had a full-term pregnancy (breastfeeding a child, on the other hand, may decrease your risk)

How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?

Rheumatoid arthritis is commonly diagnosed via a series of physical tests (eg. X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRI scans), and blood exams. There is no specific test to determine whether RA is present; rather your doctor will look at your family and personal medical history as well as various test results to rule out other possible conditions and then diagnose RA. The sooner rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed, the quicker treatment may begin to slow or even stop its progression.

What to do if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong condition that currently cannot be cured. The focus for patients, therefore, lies in holding or at least slowing its progression, reducing inflammation in the body, and managing RA’s symptoms as much as possible.

As some RA drugs may negatively affect other systems in your body, such as your liver or blood cells, it’s also important to schedule regular check-ups to make sure your current treatment is still up-to-date and your best course of action.

Burdens shared are burdens made lighter. Our friendly, free Carecircle.org community is a safe space for you and fellow patients to find hope and control by engaging with other people’s posts, exchanging valuable advice, or reading inspiring stories by members going through the same health challenges you are.

How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

The foremost goal of RA treatment lies in reducing and suppressing inflammation as much as possible to avoid symptoms or even achieve total remission. The main method to do so is special medication, but there are also other things you can do to help fight RA and its symptoms. These include:

• eating a healthy, balanced diet
• adding supplements such as curcumin or omega-3 fish oils
• getting plenty of exercise
• making time for sufficient rest
• undergoing soothing/relaxing treatments such as hot-cold treatments, massages, special baths, etc.
• reducing physical and emotional stress
• building an emotional support system
• meditation

Traditional rheumatoid arthritis medication: DMARDs & steroids

RA is typically treated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or DMARDs. In addition, steroids may be used for short periods of time to quickly reduce any existing inflammation and resulting symptoms.

Newest drugs for arthritis pain: biologics

Besides the well-established treatments via DMARDs & steroids, there is also a newer form of treating RA via biologics, genetically engineered proteins that aim at shutting down specifically those processes of your immune system that cause inflammation. Biologics are often used in addition to traditional rheumatoid arthritis medication, especially in more severe cases.

Rheumatoid arthritis FAQs

Looking for answers to some of your most important questions about rheumatoid arthritis? Here you go:

Is rheumatoid arthritis hereditary

Probably yes. Rheumatoid arthritis has been linked to certain genes and gene combinations, which are hereditary – hence the propensity for the condition is most likely hereditary as well, even if it may never be triggered.

How to cure rheumatoid arthritis permanently?

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for RA. Modern treatments can, however, significantly slow its progression and reduce, if not stop, its symptoms.

Is rheumatoid arthritis a disability?

Rheumatoid arthritis itself does not qualify as a disability. However, subsequent conditions caused by RA, such as loss of mobility in one or several joints, may do so.

Rheumatoid arthritis resources

• Arthritis Foundation
• CDC
• NSH UK
• Versus Arthritis

Whether you’re still looking for answers to your symptoms or have already been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, we hope this guide could help shed some light on what to look out for and how to deal with your or a loved one’s condition. We wish you all the best.

Guide Sources

• Illinois Bone & Joint Institute
• Arthritis Foundation
• CDC
• NSH UK
• Versus Arthritis