Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis usually develop gradually. Often they are first felt in small joints, such as your fingers and toes, although shoulders and knees can also be affected early, and muscle stiffness can be a prominent early feature.
Flare-ups
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person. They can come and go, and may change over time. You will occasionally experience flare-ups when your condition will deteriorate and your symptoms will be more intense and severe.
You can experience a flare-up at any time of the day or night. However, it is likely your symptoms will be more painful when you first wake up and then begin to ease as the day progresses and you start using and flexing your joints.
Symptoms
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are outlined below.
Pain
This is usually a throbbing and aching sort of pain. Often worse in the mornings and after you have been sitting still for a while. Pain is often felt while you are resting, not after activity.
Stiffness
Joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis can feel stiff, especially in the morning. Morning stiffness associated with a kind of arthritis called osteoarthritis usually wears off within 30 minutes of getting up. However, rheumatoid arthritis morning stiffness usually lasts longer than half an hour.
Warmth and redness
The lining of the affected joint becomes inflamed, causing the joints to swell, and become hot, tender to touch and painful.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation around the joints, such as rheumatoid nodules, and in other parts of your body. The condition can also cause inflammation of your tear glands, salivary glands, the lining of your heart and lungs, and your blood vessels.