Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that affects your joints - the places where your bones meet, like your knuckles, wrists and ankles. It causes pain, swelling and stiffness that lasts for a long time.

Think of it like this: your body's defence system (called your immune system) normally fights off germs to keep you healthy. But with rheumatoid arthritis, this defence system gets confused and starts attacking the lining of your joints by mistake. This makes your joints swollen, stiff and painful.

Which parts of your body does it affect?

Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly affects your:

• Hands and fingers
• Feet and toes
• Wrists

The condition usually affects the same joints on both sides of your body. So if your right wrist is painful, your left wrist will likely be affected too.

What are flare-ups?

Sometimes your symptoms might get much worse for a while - this is called a flare-up or flare. During a flare, you might have more pain, stiffness and swelling than usual. These flare-ups can be hard to predict, but with the right treatment, you can have fewer of them.

Between flares, you might feel much better and have very few symptoms for months or even years.

Other symptoms you might notice

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis also experience:

• Feeling very tired all the time
• Losing weight without trying
• Problems in other parts of the body

Who is more likely to get it?

You're more at risk if you:

• Are a woman
• Have family members with rheumatoid arthritis
• Smoke

However, anyone can develop this condition, and doctors don't fully understand what triggers it.

When should you speak to your GP?

Speak to your GP if you have:

• Joint pain, swelling or stiffness that lasts more than a few days
• Joints that are painful and stiff, especially in the morning
• The same joints affected on both sides of your body

Getting help early is really important. Quick treatment can stop the condition getting worse and prevent damage to your joints.

Can it be treated?

While there's no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are very good treatments available. Many people with the condition can live full, active lives and continue working normally.

Treatment might include:

• Medicines to reduce pain and swelling
• Medicines that slow down the condition
• Physiotherapy to keep you moving
• Help from occupational therapists to make daily tasks easier
• Sometimes surgery if joints become very damaged

What about complications?

If rheumatoid arthritis isn't well controlled, it can sometimes affect other parts of your body, including your heart, lungs and eyes. This is why it's so important to work with your GP and hospital team to keep your condition under control.

The key message

If you think you might have rheumatoid arthritis, don't wait - speak to your GP as soon as possible. Early treatment makes a huge difference to how you feel and can help prevent joint damage.

---

Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.