Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (ongoing) autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the lining of your joints (synovium). It most commonly affects the joints in your fingers, hands, wrists, knees, ankles, feet and toes. RA usually occurs in the same joints on both sides of your body, which makes it different from some other types of arthritis.

Uncontrolled inflammation damages cartilage, which normally acts as a “shock absorber” in your joints. In time, this can deform your joints. Eventually, your bone itself erodes. This can lead to the fusion of your joint(s).

Specific cells in your immune system (your body’s infection-fighting system) aid this process. These substances are produced in your joints but also circulate and cause symptoms throughout your body. In addition to affecting your joints, rheumatoid arthritis sometimes affects other parts of your body, including your:

• Skin
• Eyes
• Mouth
• Lungs
• Heart

What are the stages of rheumatoid arthritis?

The four stages of rheumatoid arthritis are:

• Stage 1: In early-stage RA, there’s inflammation in the tissue around your joint(s). You may have some joint pain and stiffness. If your provider orders X-rays, they won’t see destructive changes in your bones.
• Stage 2: The inflammation has begun to damage the cartilage in your joints. You might notice stiffness and a decreased range of motion.
• Stage 3: The inflammation is so severe that it damages your bones. You’ll have more pain, stiffness and even less range of motion than in stage 2. You may start to see physical changes.
• Stage 4: In this stage, the inflammation stops but your joints keep getting worse. You’ll have severe pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of mobility.

It may take many years to go through all stages, and some people don’t progress through all stages.

When do people typically develop RA?

RA usually starts to develop between the ages of 30 and 60. But anyone can develop the condition. In children and young adults — usually between the ages of 16 and 40 — it’s called young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA). In people who develop symptoms after they turn 60, it’s called later-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA).