Characteristics of RA include:

Redness, swelling, pain and movement limitation around joints of the hands, feet, elbows, knees and neck. In more severe cases the eyes, lungs or blood vessels may be involved.

At first RA generally involves the small joints of the fingers and toes. Often with abrupt onset, the joints become painful, swollen and warm. In the space of weeks or months, more and more joints may be affected. Apart from the joints, the tendon sheaths also become inflamed and swollen, for example those of the finger extensors on the back of the hand and the bursa at the elbow. Early morning stiffness in and around the joints, lasting at least one hour before maximal improvement is a typical sign of RA. It is a subjective sign and the patient needs to be carefully informed as to the difference between pain and stiffness. Morning stiffness duration is related to disease activity.

RA also has systemic complications that range from fatigue and fever to increased cardiovascular disease and bone degeneration.

Rheumatoid Arthritis progresses in three stages:

1. Swelling of the synovial lining, causing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the joint
2. Rapid division and growth of cells, which causes the synovium to thicken, leading to pannus formation
3. Inflammatory cells release enzymes that digest bone and cartilage, often causing the involved joint to lose its shape and alignment, resulting in more pain and loss of movement