This condition is called Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease that affects far more than just the joints—it can alter lives, reshape identities, and demand resilience in the face of constant challenges. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects far more than your joints. Find out some of the common and rare symptoms and complications of RA. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the immune system attacks its own body's tissues by mistake. This is called an autoimmune condition. Rheumatoid arthritis differs from the more common osteoarthritis. Some people have both. Osteoarthritis causes damage to joints from overuse. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (ongoing) autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the lining of your joints (synovium). It most commonly affects the joints in your fingers, hands, wrists, knees, ankles, feet and toes. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. There’s no cure for RA, but you can manage and treat it with medicines and lifestyle changes. It’s best to diagnose and treat RA early to avoid joint damage and worsening symptoms and complications. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Joint damage can happen quickly without treatment. But clinical studies show that easing of symptoms, called remission, is more likely with early treatment with medicines called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Learn all about rheumatoid arthritis, including the causes, symptoms, and treatment. It's sometimes hard to tell whether you have RA or something else. A lot of other conditions share similar. Learn more about RA and how to treat it. Updated Oct, 15, 2021. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes joint inflammation and pain. It happens when the immune system doesn’t work properly and attacks the lining of the joints, called the synovium. Resident Advisor, Detroit Techno Foundation & Underground Music Academy present an exhibition exploring some of the Detroit electronic music community's most impactful heroes. Beyond Bali's beaches lies one of the best audiophile clubs in the world. Discover Rheum for More, a website offering rheumatoid arthritis education, tips, & management for people living with RA who want more out of their lives.