Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that can cause excruciating pain in people suffering from it. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused essentially because the immune system of the patient’s body begins to attack the cells present in the lining of various joints. This leads to inflammation in the joint areas and leads to severe pain. However, there are early warning signs which can indicate the cause of this problem so that one can be more equipped to handle the symptoms which are to appear as the condition progresses. Some of the early warning signs which are shown in the case of rheumatoid arthritis are as follows.

Stiffness in the joints
Joint stiffness is one of the most common warning signs seen in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. This symptom could be observed in one or two joints. It is quite often observed in the fingers. This symptom could last for days together. A general feeling of stiffness in the entire body can possibly be felt in patients of rheumatoid arthritis at the early stages. It is more clearly felt when the individual stays at a place without movement for a long time.

Fatigue
The initial symptoms that an individual with rheumatoid arthritis experiences is a general lack of energy and tiredness. Fatigue can be observed in patients while performing everyday activities like cleaning, bending and walking. It can also further affect the individual’s relationships, sex drive, and productivity at work.

Weight loss
Another early warning sign of rheumatoid arthritis is fever which when combined with fatigue can lead to loss of appetite and weight during the process. This sign is an indirect effect of the condition, unlike the previous symptoms.

Joint pain
The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is generally noticed in the wrists, feet, and fingers. Joints have a lining that becomes thickened because of the inflammation caused by the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. The thickening of this lining at the joints leads to the production of extra joint fluid. Consequently, the pressure on the capsule surrounding the joint increases and this leads to the irritation of nerve endings present in the area. This causes pain at the joints which worsen with the progression of the condition.

Restricted movement
As rheumatoid arthritis develops, in the initial stages, the individual may observe slight difficulty in bending the parts around the joint. For instance, moving the wrist back and forth or bending the knee might feel more difficult than usual. Eventually, the progression of the condition would also affect the tendons and the ligaments around the joints increasing the difficulty in straightening and bending the joints.

Tingling and numbness felt in body parts
This sensation observed in the feet and hands could be explained as an early sign of rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation occurs because of rheumatoid arthritis which can further lead to the compression of nerves in different places. This can result in the complete loss of sensation in an area and in some cases, tingling may occur.