For some, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are mild and do not significantly interfere with everyday activities. For others, the disease can be disabling. As with many medical conditions, the earlier it is diagnosed and treatment is started the better. Early diagnosis can help to slow the progression of this condition and prevent or delay disability. This disease can be diagnosed through blood tests and joint fluid aspiration. Your doctor will also go over your history of symptoms to detect any early onset symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Joint Stiffness
In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis begins slowly and can take weeks or months to develop, says the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. The most common early warning sign is morning stiffness in several joints that lasts for one hour or longer. In many cases at least three to five joints are involved. This same stiffness may also be present after periods of inactivity. This varies from other forms of arthritis where the stiffness just lasts a few moments and resolves with movement. In addition to the stiffness, the joints may become red and swollen.
Pain
The stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis is usually accompanied by pain and joint tenderness. The most common sites affected in the early stages are the fingers, hands, toes, feet and wrists. The spine is very rarely involved. As this condition progresses, symptoms may appear in the shoulders, elbows, knees and ankles. According to the Mayo Clinic, rheumatoid arthritis can be distinguished from other forms because typically, symptoms occur symmetrically---in the same areas on both sides of the body. Other forms of arthritis can affect just one side of the body, such as a knee or hip. This condition may be difficult to detect in the early stages because the symptoms may go through periods of flares followed by remissions where there are no symptoms at all.
Weakness and Fatigue
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, and there are many tests that need to be done to help confirm a diagnosis. To help catch this condition early on, your doctor can do blood tests and x-rays. He will also need a history of your symptoms. In the early stages, the Arthritis Foundation recommends to be on the lookout for feeling unusually weak or tired for an extended period. This is because pain and other symptoms may interrupt sleep. Not feeling well in general and having symptoms that are flu-like are additional warning signs. This includes feeling achy, having a low-grade fever and unexplained weight loss.
References
- Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Presentation
- Mayo Clinic: Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
- Arthritis Foundation: Rheumatoid Arthritis How is it Diagnosed
- Journal of the The Royal Society of Medicine: Diagnosis of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: What the Non-Specialist Needs to Know
