characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis
RA Characteristics. RA begins in the smaller joints of the body. You are likely to have pain, stiffness and tenderness in the finger joints. As RA progresses, symptoms can develop in the larger joints such as the hips, shoulders, and ankles.Rheumatoid arthritis is a symmetrical disease.You will experience symptoms on both sides of your body at the same time.ach kind of arthritis also has its own set of symptoms that is not shared. RA is a systemic disease. The autoimmune aspect of rheumatic disease affects the entire body, not just the joints. For this reason, early signs of RA can include low-grade fever, muscle aches, and excessive fatigue.