Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that mainly affects the small joints in your hands and feet, according the Mayo Clinic. An autoimmune disorder occurs when your body's own immune system attacks certain parts of your body instead of bacteria or other foreign substances. Specifically in RA, your immune system is attacking the lining of your joints. The Mayo Clinic also states that RA is two to three times more common in women than men and occurs between the ages of 40 to 60. In addition, the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) notes that RA is not an inherited disease. RA has early signs that you should be aware of.
Small Joint Pain
An early sign of RA is that it typically affects your smaller joints first, causing pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. These joints include the bones in your fingers, wrist, hands, toes, ankles and feet. As RA worsens over time, larger joints such as your elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, jaw and neck can be affected. This pain is usually dull in nature, and joints are tender to the touch. The Mayo Clinic reports that morning stiffness is also an early sign of RA. If you are experiencing any of these early signs, you may have RA. Seek diagnosis and treatment from your doctor.
Small Joint Swelling
An early sign of RA is swelling of the affected small joints. This occurs because chemical signals released by your immune system cause excess fluid to move to the affected joints, causing swelling. This can cause your small joints to be red and puffy, according to the Mayo Clinic. The swelling of your small joints is never a normal condition and should be thoroughly investigated by your doctor.
Other Early Symptoms
Fever and fatigue are early signs of RA. In addition, the AAOS reports that a decrease in appetite is also an early sign of RA. These entire body symptoms occur because the chemical signals released during an autoimmune reaction can increase body temperature to cause fever. In addition, an autoimmune reaction can cause weakness due to a low red blood cell count, according to the AAOS.
