What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
The main joint symptoms are related to the state of inflammation and include pain, swelling, redness, warmth and limitation in range of motion of the involved joints The joint pains in RA behave in a specific manner and affect multiple joints on both sides of the body in what is called a symmetric pattern. That is, if your left knee is affected, your right knee will likely also be affected. The joints most likely to be affected are the small joints of the hand and feet, elbows, knees, and ankles. The external signs of inflammation reflect a potentially-damaging disease process that can lead to injury to bone, cartilage, and soft tissues such as tendons. If left untreated, this can cause deformities and limitation in function. Fortunately, today we have excellent treatments that can stop this inflammation and avoid further damage.