In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis first affects small joints such as those in the hands and feet. As it progresses, it can spread to the joints of the wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, and hips. RA affects more than 1.3 million people in the US, making it the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. Of this total, about 75% of people living with RA are women.

Though rheumatoid arthritis affects each person differently, unpredictability is a common issue. People can experience flare ups that cause acute pain, soreness, and swelling, followed by periods of remission when symptoms are less noticeable.

Since it can be challenging to predict when flare ups will occur, RA makes it difficult to carry out daily activities and meet work and social obligations. 

Common RA Symptoms Checklist:

• Painful, swollen joints
• Stiffness in multiple joints at once
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Similar symptoms on both sides of the body such as pain in both knees or both wrists at once
• Lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, which grow beneath the skin near the joints