Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis. It is a chronic disease that can cause pain and stiffness in various joints of the body. It can affect any joint, but most often begins in the small joints of the hands and feet. In many cases, rheumatoid arthritis affects joints on both sides of the body, such as both knees or both hands.

Over time, untreated rheumatoid arthritis causes joint damage and can lead to serious disability. Fortunately, new medications now often prevent the progression of joint damage. The severe joint deformities often associated with RA are becoming less common with these advances in treatment.