Affecting more than 2 million people in the U.S. alone, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. One of the more than 100 types of arthritis that affect the joints, RA has several differentiating features. It occurs most often in the wrist and finger joints, although it can also affect other parts of the body in addition to or besides the joints. RA is often accompanied by feelings of fatigue, occasional fevers, and a general sense of not feeling well.
Affecting 2.5 times as many women as men, RA is a highly individualized condition, in that each person has a unique experience with RA symptoms, remission, and treatment.
