Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUnusual Symptoms of RADiagnosisTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Unusual Symptoms of RA
Diagnosis
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that results when your body producesantibodiesto attack its own joints. These antibodies may also attack other parts of your body, causing widespread inflammation and cell damage affecting the skin, eyes, digestive system, lungs, and heart.
This article will review some of the more unusual and uncommon symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis other than joint problems to help recognize anddiagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
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While rheumatoid arthritis most commonly causesjoint pain, inflammation, and swelling, systemic symptoms such as fatigue can affect the whole body. Inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis can also target other systems of the body, resulting in a variety of different symptoms. These are known as extra-articiular manifestations.
Rheumatoid Arthritis SymptomsThe mostcommon symptoms of rheumatoid arthritisinclude:Joint painSwollen jointsJoint stiffnessJoint swellingFatigueFever
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
The mostcommon symptoms of rheumatoid arthritisinclude:Joint painSwollen jointsJoint stiffnessJoint swellingFatigueFever
The mostcommon symptoms of rheumatoid arthritisinclude:
What to Know About Pannus and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Snoring
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect the joints of the neck and jaw, which can predispose people with rheumatoid arthritis to developsleep apnea. This can lead to daytime tiredness, interrupted sleep, and snoring due to blocked airways while asleep.
Risk Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Skin Rashes
Skin problems from inflammatory changes that can cause rashes, clusters of bumps orhives, and discolored patches of skin are common with RA.
The most common skin condition with RA is rheumatoid nodules, small bumps that develop over bony areas like the heels, elbows, knees, forearms, and fingers. They develop in approximately 25% of all patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Hives, Rashes, and Other Skin Problems in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Vasculitis
Rheumatoid vasculitis is rare but serious. It occurs when inflammation spreads to the blood vessels, causing numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands and feet. It also causes skin rash, and can affect areas of the body like the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.
Breathing Problems
Breathing problems can result from inflammation of the lungs, which can cause conditions likepulmonary fibrosis,interstitial lung disease, and pleuritis in 5% to 30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can cause shortness of breath, a dry cough, and chest pain.
Numbness and Tingling
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Numbness and Tingling Causes and Relief
Gum Disease
The same bacterium that causes gum disease (gingivitis) is believed to play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis in susceptible patients. Gum disease results from poor oral hygiene habits from not brushing or flossing properly, leading to inflamed gums that are painful, swollen, and susceptible to bleeding.
Dry Mouth
Associated Sjögren’s disease, which can cause dry mouth, is also common in rheumatoid arthritis. It occurs when inflammation attacks the salivary glands. There is no cure for it, but it can be treated with biologics.
Increased Body Fat
Because rheumatoid arthritis causes painful, inflamed joints, muscle wasting and weakness is common as people with RA will often avoid moving their painful joints. This loss of muscle mass may alter body composition and increase total body fat in sedentary individuals.
Eye Irritation
Inflammatory changes that occur with rheumatoid arthritis can also attack the eyes. When it does, it results in longer duration of symptoms and includes conditions likekeratoconjunctivitis sicca(dry eye syndrome),episcleritis(red eyes),scleritis(swelling of the whites of the eyes), andkeratitis(inflammation of the cornea). Symptoms of these conditions include dry, itchy eyes, eye pain, eye redness, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light.
Disrupted Sleep
Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with sleep disorders and depression and anxiety, which can make falling asleep more difficult at night. Risks of depression and anxiety increase as RA progresses, and this can lead to long-term disturbed sleep.
Mental Health Conditions
Chronic inflammation from autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis can also cause chronic inflammation in the brain linked to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and forms of mental illness. The same inflammatory proteins that are elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are also elevated in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to reduce these inflammatory proteins may be able to prevent or slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related mental health conditions.
Cognitive Issues
Medications for RA have a variety of neurological side effects that can cause cognitive issues like psychosis (delusions and hallucinations), difficulty concentrating, and memory loss. This is due to the medications' inflammatory effects.
Digestive Problems
The most common digestive issues related to rheumatoid arthritis are liver dysfunction, enlarged liver and spleen,cirrhosis(scarring of the liver), andpancreatitis(inflamed pancreas).
Up to 13% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis also developamyloidosis, in which an abnormal buildup of proteins damages the liver and intestines, causing abdominal pain, malabsorption, and chronic diarrhea.
Effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis Throughout the Entire Body
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed based on a combination of symptoms and blood work. RA will typically affect the same joint on both sides of the body and cause pain, swelling, and inflammation for more than six weeks.
Blood work will typically also reveal elevated inflammatory markers, including increased levels of rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. X-rays are often performed to examine joints for signs of bone damage and joint space narrowing.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf you have been experiencing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling for more than one month, especially in addition to other systemic symptoms, schedule a visit to talk with your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is important for accurately diagnosing the condition and preventing it from progressing.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you have been experiencing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling for more than one month, especially in addition to other systemic symptoms, schedule a visit to talk with your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is important for accurately diagnosing the condition and preventing it from progressing.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Medication is the gold standard treatment to decrease the inflammatory autoimmune response with rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs for rheumatoid arthritis include DMARDs likemethotrexate,biologicslike tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, andJanus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Glucocorticoids (steroids) are also used for short-term management of joint inflammation and swelling for up to three months in the initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune form of arthritis that attacks the joints in a symmetrical fashion, causing prolonged joint pain, inflammation, and swelling. While painful and swollen joints is the primary symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation can also affect multiple other systems of the body.
This includes uncommon symptoms like hearing issues, snoring, skin rashes, breathing problems, numbness and tingling, gum disease, increased body fat, eye irritation, disrupted sleep, mental health conditions, cognitive issues, and digestive problems.
Treatment with medications like glucocorticoids, DMARDs, biologics, and JAK inhibitors can help lower the autoimmune response to decrease inflammation throughout the body, helping to decrease joint pain and other symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Symptoms other than joint pain, swelling, and inflammation are often indicators of a complication or progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Staying on top of your medications and following healthy lifestyle habits can help you manage your rheumatoid arthritis and keep inflammation under control.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are joint pain, inflammation, redness, stiffness, and swelling.Other forms of arthritis that are also autoimmune conditions can be mistaken for arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and sarcoidosis.Learn MoreDiseases That Mimic Rheumatoid ArthritisA rheumatoid arthritis flare-up will often cause an increase in joint pain, swollen and tender joints, joint stiffness, severe fatigue, and a general feeling of being unwell.Learn MoreUnderstanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares
The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are joint pain, inflammation, redness, stiffness, and swelling.
Other forms of arthritis that are also autoimmune conditions can be mistaken for arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and sarcoidosis.Learn MoreDiseases That Mimic Rheumatoid Arthritis
Other forms of arthritis that are also autoimmune conditions can be mistaken for arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and sarcoidosis.
Learn MoreDiseases That Mimic Rheumatoid Arthritis
A rheumatoid arthritis flare-up will often cause an increase in joint pain, swollen and tender joints, joint stiffness, severe fatigue, and a general feeling of being unwell.Learn MoreUnderstanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares
A rheumatoid arthritis flare-up will often cause an increase in joint pain, swollen and tender joints, joint stiffness, severe fatigue, and a general feeling of being unwell.
Learn MoreUnderstanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is rheumatoid arthritis?Shen TC, Hang LW, Liang SJ, et al.Risk of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMJ Open. 2016;6(11):e013151. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013151Radu AF, Bungau SG.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: An overview.Cells. 2021;10(11):2857. doi:10.3390/cells10112857Conforti A, Di Cola I, Pavlych V, Ruscitti P, Berardicurti O, Ursini F, Giacomelli R, Cipriani P.Beyond the joints, the extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Feb;20(2):102735. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102735.Vasculitis Foundation.Rheumatoid vasculitis.Konig MF, Abusleme L, Reinholdt J, et al.Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis.Sci Transl Med. 2016;8(369):369ra176. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaj1921Vitali C, Palombi G, Cataleta P.Treating Sjögren’s syndrome: Insights for the clinician.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2010;2(3):155-66. doi:10.1177/1759720X10363246Figus FA, Piga M, Azzolin I, McConnell R, Iagnocco A.Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Apr;20(4):102776. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776.Tanaka Y.Rheumatoid arthritis.Inflamm Regen. 2020;40:20. doi:10.1186/s41232-020-00133-8
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is rheumatoid arthritis?Shen TC, Hang LW, Liang SJ, et al.Risk of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMJ Open. 2016;6(11):e013151. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013151Radu AF, Bungau SG.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: An overview.Cells. 2021;10(11):2857. doi:10.3390/cells10112857Conforti A, Di Cola I, Pavlych V, Ruscitti P, Berardicurti O, Ursini F, Giacomelli R, Cipriani P.Beyond the joints, the extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Feb;20(2):102735. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102735.Vasculitis Foundation.Rheumatoid vasculitis.Konig MF, Abusleme L, Reinholdt J, et al.Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis.Sci Transl Med. 2016;8(369):369ra176. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaj1921Vitali C, Palombi G, Cataleta P.Treating Sjögren’s syndrome: Insights for the clinician.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2010;2(3):155-66. doi:10.1177/1759720X10363246Figus FA, Piga M, Azzolin I, McConnell R, Iagnocco A.Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Apr;20(4):102776. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776.Tanaka Y.Rheumatoid arthritis.Inflamm Regen. 2020;40:20. doi:10.1186/s41232-020-00133-8
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is rheumatoid arthritis?Shen TC, Hang LW, Liang SJ, et al.Risk of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMJ Open. 2016;6(11):e013151. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013151Radu AF, Bungau SG.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: An overview.Cells. 2021;10(11):2857. doi:10.3390/cells10112857Conforti A, Di Cola I, Pavlych V, Ruscitti P, Berardicurti O, Ursini F, Giacomelli R, Cipriani P.Beyond the joints, the extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Feb;20(2):102735. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102735.Vasculitis Foundation.Rheumatoid vasculitis.Konig MF, Abusleme L, Reinholdt J, et al.Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis.Sci Transl Med. 2016;8(369):369ra176. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaj1921Vitali C, Palombi G, Cataleta P.Treating Sjögren’s syndrome: Insights for the clinician.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2010;2(3):155-66. doi:10.1177/1759720X10363246Figus FA, Piga M, Azzolin I, McConnell R, Iagnocco A.Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Apr;20(4):102776. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776.Tanaka Y.Rheumatoid arthritis.Inflamm Regen. 2020;40:20. doi:10.1186/s41232-020-00133-8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Shen TC, Hang LW, Liang SJ, et al.Risk of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.BMJ Open. 2016;6(11):e013151. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013151
Radu AF, Bungau SG.Management of rheumatoid arthritis: An overview.Cells. 2021;10(11):2857. doi:10.3390/cells10112857
Conforti A, Di Cola I, Pavlych V, Ruscitti P, Berardicurti O, Ursini F, Giacomelli R, Cipriani P.Beyond the joints, the extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Feb;20(2):102735. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2020.102735.
Vasculitis Foundation.Rheumatoid vasculitis.
Konig MF, Abusleme L, Reinholdt J, et al.Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans-induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis.Sci Transl Med. 2016;8(369):369ra176. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaj1921
Vitali C, Palombi G, Cataleta P.Treating Sjögren’s syndrome: Insights for the clinician.Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2010;2(3):155-66. doi:10.1177/1759720X10363246
Figus FA, Piga M, Azzolin I, McConnell R, Iagnocco A.Rheumatoid arthritis: Extra-articular manifestations and comorbidities.Autoimmun Rev.2021 Apr;20(4):102776. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102776.
Tanaka Y.Rheumatoid arthritis.Inflamm Regen. 2020;40:20. doi:10.1186/s41232-020-00133-8
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