Rheumatoid Arthritis can be described as a chronic and inflammatory autoimmune disorder which causes the immune system to ultimately attack the body’s joints. This causes symptoms such as joint stiffness, particularly on the hands or feet, some cases both. Other symptoms include arthritis and swelling of the soft tissues, symmetric arthritis, and radiological changes indicated by joint erosion.

What separates rheumatoid arthritis from other joint disorders is that the pain is generally worse in the morning compared to later in the day. Therefore, the pain will decrease when the affected joint is used during the day. Some general indications to look out for is stiffness that lasts more than an hour, or swelling and pain that last up to or longer than six weeks becuase they can indicate rheumatoid arthritis. When rheumatoid arthritis is in its early stages symptoms may include fever, excessive fatigue, and even pea-sized lumps which can be felt under the skin known as nodules. Along with the symptoms described earlier, one can also expect to experience anemia, a decrease in appetite, and increment of fluid in the ankles or behind the knees.

Rheumatoid arthritis is also described as a multi-systemic disease because most patients also suffer anemia due to either the disease alone or of a side effect of a drug used in treating rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, children can also develop rheumatoid arthritis, their symptoms may include, trembling shivers and a pink rash which may be followed by painful and swollen joints.

The most probable cause for the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is the irritation of other tissues in and around the joints which are being affected. The irritation can be due to a chemical-messenger substance like prostaglandin E2.  Therefore it is important for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce the pain. These types of drugs inhibit the production of prostaglandins making the pain to decrease.