Conditions
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
A long-term autoimmune disease that mainly affects the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness, most often in the hands, wrists and feet.
About Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a long-term autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks the body's own tissues, especially the joints. This can cause pain, swelling and stiffness, most often in the hands, wrists and feet. Some people also feel very tired or lose weight.
A rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis, usually makes the diagnosis. A visit often includes a careful joint exam, a review of your health history, and blood tests such as rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies, CRP and ESR. Some people also get x-rays or an ultrasound of the joints.
Doctors may also look at published classification criteria, which were written to group patients for research studies. Joint pain without swelling has many possible causes, and a diagnosis is a clinician's judgment. Before a visit, it can help to record which joints swell or hurt, photos of swelling you can see, how long morning stiffness lasts, when the symptoms started, and copies of past test results.
Who usually evaluates it: Usually a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritis.
What you can record in Selihc Health
- Which joints swell, hurt or feel stiff, with photos of swelling you can see
- When the joint symptoms started and how long morning stiffness lasts
- Past RF, anti-CCP, CRP and ESR results, and joint x-ray or ultrasound reports
What only a clinician can do
- A full joint exam, counting swollen and tender joints
- Reading blood tests and joint imaging
- Checking for other causes of joint swelling, such as gout or psoriatic arthritis
In an emergency
Call 911 right away for chest pain, pressure or tightness; trouble breathing, or coughing up blood; sudden weakness or numbness in the face, an arm or a leg; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or a sudden, very bad headache; sudden trouble seeing, walking or keeping your balance; a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes, a first seizure, or trouble breathing or waking up after a seizure; or fainting with no waking up within a minute. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988 any time. If you are in danger now, call 911. This list does not cover every emergency. If something feels seriously wrong, call 911.
Get care the same day (call your clinician or go to urgent care) for a joint that suddenly becomes very painful, hot, swollen or red, especially with a fever or feeling sick.
The published criteria
Your summary organizes your records against these sources, for your clinician to review. What clinicians see
Rheumatoid arthritis: 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria
Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62(9):2569-2581. doi:10.1002/art.27584
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This page is general information written for patients, not medical advice. Content is a draft awaiting clinical review.
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