Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involved, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body. 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. In this rare interview, our second cover story of summer 2026, Oli Warwick goes deep with the electronic iconoclast. The union of Sun Ra and Ricardo Villalobos was box office enough. But the story behind 2026's cosmic compilation runs far deeper. 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. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint pain and swelling. As the tissue that lines the joints, called synovial membrane, becomes inflamed and gets thicker, fluid builds up. As a result, joints can bend out of shape, called deformed. The creator of the universe and the giver of life, the Sun or Ra represented life, warmth and growth. Since the people regarded Ra as a principal god, creator of the universe and the source of life, he had a strong influence on them, which led to him being one of the most worshipped of all the Egyptian gods and even considered King of the Gods. 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.