Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Come On Suddenly?

When it comes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), everyone is different. 

Over time, your symptoms might not be the same as those of a friend or neighbor with the same disease. How you feel will depend on things like:

1. How far along the RA was when you found out you had it
2. How old you were when you got sick
3. How bad your illness is

Pain, swelling, and joint stiffness are the main signs of rheumatoid arthritis. It could also cause more typical inflammation and symptoms in other body parts.

Usually, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis come on slowly over a few weeks. Still, in some cases, they can come on quickly over a few days.

The signs are different for each person. They could change as time goes on. You might be having a flare when your condition or symptoms gets worse.

RELATED: 11 Arthritis-Friendly Tools That Make Daily Life Easier

RA Affects the Joints

Most of the time, rheumatoid arthritis impacts the joints. It can affect any joint in the body, but the tiny joints in the feet and hands are usually the first to have problems.

Most of the time, rheumatoid arthritis affects both sides of the body simultaneously and to the same degree. However, this is only sometimes the case.

Pain

Most of the time, people with RA feel a throbbing and aching pain in their joints. It’s usually worse in the early morning or after being still for a while.

From our partner

Do you still have gout symptoms even though you're taking medication? You’re not alone. The Kadence study is a clinical research study for adults with uncontrolled gout. Learn More

Stiffness

When you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints may feel stiff. If your hands are affected, for example, you might not be able to bend your fingers or make a fist fully.

Stiffness is often worse in the A.M. or after a period of not doing much.

Morning stiffness caused by osteoarthritis usually goes away within 30 minutes of getting up, but morning stiffness caused by rheumatoid arthritis often lasts longer than this.

Swelling, Warmth, Joints Turning Red

When someone has rheumatoid arthritis, the lining of their joints gets inflamed. This can cause the joints to swell, get hot, and be painful to touch.

RELATED: How Does Arthritis Affect The Body: Here Are 10 Surprising Ways

More Signs and Symptoms

Some people with RA have problems with their joints and more general signs, such as: 

1. Being tired and lacking energy.
2. Fever, sweating, and not wanting to eat.
3. Losing weight

The inflammation that comes with RA can occasionally cause issues in other body parts, such as:

• Eyes: If the eyes are afflicted, you may get dry eyes
• Heart and lungs: If the lungs or heart are affected, you may have chest pain.

How the Symptoms of RA Get Worse Over Time

People with RA are all different, but there are a few things that tend to happen over time:

• Long remissions: During one of these times, your stiffness and pain go away or get much better, but you aren’t cured. Some people with RA, about 5% to 10%, get sick all at once, and then they don’t have any symptoms for years or even decades.
• Changes in the way you feel: About 15% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have this happen to them. Between flare-ups, you may go for weeks or even months with few or no problems.

Rheumatoid Arthritis has Several Stages

RA has four stages. Each has its own way of treating it.

From our partner

People 16+ years old struggling with lupus: Find out if the PHOENYCS FLY Study may be for you. Study-related care provided at no cost.

Stage 1

In the early stages, the lining of your joint, called the synovium, gets red and swollen. So far, the bones haven’t been hurt. But the tissue around them often swells, making the joint stiff and painful.

RELATED: How to Stay Hydrated with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Try These 6 Ways 

Stage 2

In this moderate stage, inflammation damages your cartilage, which is the soft material that protects the ends of your bones.

You won’t be able to move the joint as far as you used to because it will be stiff. The doctor will say that you can’t move as much as you used to.

Stage 3

Inflammation removes cartilage and causes the bones around your joints to break down. The joints could get loose. As the bones move around, you may see changes. There will be pain, swelling, and limited movement.

RELATED: 9 Foods That Reduce Joint Pain & Make You Feel Better 

In the final stage of RA, the inflammation stops, but the damage worsens. The part could stop working. You’ll still hurt and swell and become stiff, and unable to move. Your muscles could also be weak. It might be time for surgery to replace a joint at this point. 

Click here to learn more about RA symptoms on BlackDoctor.org.