The initial symptoms are usually pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness of the joints. These symptoms which can arrive quite suddenly or which may develop slowly over a long period of time, are nearly always worse first thing in the morning.

Many joints can get rheumatiod arthritis and sufferers who have the disease badly may complain that their whole bodies hurt. The pain and aching is often also accompanied by a general feeling of tiredness, listlessness and of being run down. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are unusual in that they may sometimes disappear for months or years almost completely without any warning - though, sadly, they usually do come back again in the end.

The basic cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still a mystery. One theory is that the disease is caused by a virus, another that it is caused by a flaw in the body's own defence mechanism against infection. It is also generally believed that stress in its many different forms makes rheumatoid arthritis worse.

Further information can be found at:

Degenerative Arthritis
Definition of degenerative arthritis and its treatment.