When RA disease is active, the tissue covering the internal surface of the joint becomes inflamed because of cells stimulated by the immune system. This can cause cartilage, bone and tendon damage. The most common symptoms reported by patients are morning stiffness lasting longer than 15-20 minutes, fatigue, and redness, warmth and swelling of the joints. This can occur in the hands, feet, shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips. Motion of these joints is limited and physical deformities may develop.
Some patients develop nodular swellings on the forearms called rheumatoid nodules.
There may be inflammation in other areas of the body including the linings around the lungs, causing chest pain, or the nerves, leading to numbness and tingling of the feet. While stiffness and pain in the neck may occur, RA in the low back is uncommon. The diagnosis of RA is based primarily on the patient's reports and physical findings. X-rays of the joints may show joint space narrowing, areas of joint damage called erosions, and at times, bone deformities. Other Types of Arthritis Chemicals in the body form into crystals that can trigger severe episodes of joint inflammation called gout and pseudogout.