My husband is 39 and was just diagnosed, he gets stiffness and pain but no major swelling at this point? I have read that people will have trouble doing simple things like brushing their hair, dressing etc. About how many years after diagnosis until this stuff happens?

I have not been officially diagnosed with RA, but have had symptoms for the past 7 months. I want to know if what I am experiencing is typical such as:

1. Some mornings, I can barely move my hands and yet this morning, while I still had pain, I hardly had any stiffness. Is that normal?

2. I have read that your joints are often warm and that you may run a fever, but I am finding that I am often very cold and my hands, especially my knuckles, turn purple. Is that typical?

3. I have RF factor in my blood but not high enough for an official diagnosis. I have pain and stiffness everyday in my hands, wrists, toes, ankles, knees and recently, my right hip. My hands are swollen in the morning, but settle down by mid morning, and I don’t appear to have any joint damage. Is this typical and will my pain increase if the RF levels in my blood increase?

Any answer will be appreciated. I am not getting much information from my doctor since I do not have a diagnosis. Very frustrating.

I have had juvenile RA for about a year in my hands and feet, but also in other joints too, just that it hurts the most in my hands and feet. I take methotrexate once a week and ibuprofen whenever i need it. I am 13 and I don’t like having it because my fingers are always very swollen and I am very thin so its really noticable. I also have rhenos (I think that’s how you spell it) so my fingers turn purple a lot, especially when I am cold. Does this have anything to do with my RA? will my RA ever go away? I heard from my doctor that sometimes it will go away.

I was diagnosed with JRA last year at 14. Mine is the severe type. I am on methotrexate, enbrel, and several steroids. Pain pills dont really work. HELP!

Would chills also accompany rheumatoid arthritis?

I have known several people to use MSM but none who had Rheumatoid. Have you? Did it help you?

i am diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis..and have been having pain in the knee for about a month now…wat r the suitable natural remedies for this??
how does glucosamine or lakota help?
thanks!

This question is completely original.

*cries*

I have a friend that is suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis…and is supposed to see a specialist in a few weeks…right now he needs something to help. All the prescription mdsis just a temporary fix.
I need something that might give him relief now. Can you help please???

Is there any real outside influences that can predispose one to this type of arthritis?