Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the body's defense system against infection attacks the lining of the joints (bone connections to other bones). Often people complain of painful hand and limb joints in the morning, which gradually improve upon movement. When left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis deforms hands, wrists, ankles and feet.
Vague Symptoms
Thirty percent of people with early rheumatoid arthritis experience tiredness and loss of appetite that last for weeks to months before joint pain develops.
Smaller Joints
At the onset, rheumatoid arthritis affects smaller joints farthest from the core of your body. Thus, joints of the hands and feet are more likely to ache first than joints of the hip and shoulder. These smaller joints include those of the wrists, hands, ankles and feet.
Parallel Pattern of Joint Pain
Pain in the hand, wrist, and ankle joints usually occurs in a side-by-side fashion. For instance, if the right wrist aches, it is likely that the left wrist does also. It is rare to have joints ache in isolation.
Morning Stiffness
After prolonged periods of inactivity, such as sleeping, people with rheumatoid arthritis complain of having difficulty moving their wrist, hand, ankle and foot joints. This pain and stiffness usually lasts about an hour, and becomes better upon walking or moving the affected limbs.
Warmth and Redness
As the immune system, the body's defense system against infection, continues to attack the lining of the wrist, hand, ankle and foot joint, the skin which covers them becomes warm, red and painful to the touch.
References
- "Rheumatoid Arthritis." Mayo Clinic Staff; 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Fauci, Anthony et. al; 2008.
