What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

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Over one million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing pain and inflammation.

Types of Symptoms

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you are likely to experience pain, swelling and tenderness in your joints. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include red and puffy hands, hard lumps under the skin of your arms, fatigue, fever and weight loss.

Time Frame

During the first 30 minutes after you wake up, you may experience stiffness in your joints due to rheumatoid arthritis.

Progression

During the initial onset of rheumatoid arthritis, smaller joints like your wrists, hands, ankles and feet are most likely to be affected, according to the Mayo Clinic. As the condition progresses, other joints become involved like your shoulders, elbows, hips and jaw.

Frequency

Rheumatoid arthritis goes through cycles of extreme pain followed by very little pain. These periods are called flare-ups and can last for several days or weeks.

Treatment

A number of drugs are available to treat the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, anti-rheumatic drugs and TNF-alpha inhibitors. In some cases, surgery to replace damaged joints or to remove inflamed lining is effective.

Source

Mayo Clinic: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Statistics

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What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

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