Rheumatiod Arthritis is a hereditary autoimmune disease. It is characterized by painful, swollen and stiff joints that becomes disfiguring after some time. Most often, it occurs between the ages of 20 and 50, but the disease can affect children and have serious effects on major organs. It is marked by exacerbations and remissions.
Scar tissue develops in the joints where damage is done, which is what causes the crippling.
The early symptoms of rheumatiod arthritis are weight loss, loss of appetite, muscle aching, joint stiffness, swollen and painful joints, fatigue and fever. It usually affects both sides of the body, where there is symmetry. It can affect the entire body including the eyes, kidneys and heart. See your doctor if you have these symptoms. He will examine you and your joints, take x-rays and blood tests, one in particular called an ESR, or erythrocyte sedimenatation rate.