Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactor disease usually developing in multiple joints leading to inflammation of the affected joint.

This gives rise to pain, swelling, redness and increase in the local temperature of the area.

The cause of Rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but it is assumed that genetic factors, infective agents, some environmental factors have a predisposing role for developing it.

Awareness of the most common signs and symptoms of the Rheumatoid arthritis can help people as well as doctors to recognize this disease during its early stages.

It is an autoimmune disease described by inflammation in the articular surfaces of the joints.

It has an effect on more than two million people in the US between the ages of twenty and forty five. The disease can occur in all ethnic groups and races; women are affected three times more than men.

Generally the disease starts in the middle age with increasing incidence in older persons; it may develop among the children as well as the young adults.

The early symptoms generally include some obvious signs. Most commonly, it starts with one or two common symptoms and gradually advancement takes place over time.

The common symptoms for Rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person. It is seen that there is no single test that can confirm the diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, it takes time for developing the full blown symptoms. Just a few indistinctive signs and symptoms may be present at the onset, making the task difficult of diagnosing Rheumatoid arthritis at its early stages.

So, the doctors use an array of means for the correct diagnosis of most common symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis and side by side ruling out other arthritic conditions.

The points doctors remember while diagnosing Rheumatoid arthritis by early sign and symptoms are- proper history taking, detailed medical examinations, categorically placed laboratory tests and different imaging modalities. All these are done to asses the degree of joint involvement.

Complaining of pain in the joint daily is, by far, the most common symptom for Rheumatoid arthritis.

There are also reports of morning stiffness in and around the joint that lasts for an hour or two before improving, at least three involved joint with concurrent soft tissue swelling or increase in the synovial fluid including not less than one swollen joint area in the wrist, the middle joints of the finger or the knuckle.

Rheumatoid arthritis has a predisposition the wrist and joints of the finger closest to the hand. It is also seen that Rheumatoid arthritis affects other large joints like joints of the feet, ankles, knees, elbows and jaws.

Early diagnosis along with quick proper treatment is beneficial for the people suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis to live longer, healthy life. They will also suffer from fewer amounts of pain, joint damage and subsequently permanent disability.

It is unfortunate that early symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis fail to diagnose the case properly as they are very similar to other conditions, especially the other forms of arthritis like Lupus and Fibromyalgia.

Due to this, it is imperative that the patient communicates openly and in totality to the doctor and keep each other well informed about the disease.