The symptoms you describe to a health care professional are the foundation of an RA diagnosis. The most common symptoms are tender, warm, swollen joints; symmetrical pattern of pain; joint inflammation; fatigue; occasional fever; a general sense of malaise; pain and stiffness lasting for more than 30 minutes in the morning or after a long rest; and rheumatoid nodules (bumps under the skin). Because many of these symptoms are also indicative of other diseases (for example, lupus), your health care professional may recommend lab tests for those diseases or for confirmation of an RA diagnosis, as well as X-rays and/or joint ultrasound to detect any joint damage. A full medical history and physical exam are also part of a typical diagnostic workup for RA.