Featuring Dr. Kam Shojania, MD, FRCPC

Duration: 1 minute, 12 seconds

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include things like joint swelling and inflammation.

So what people would feel would be swelling around the wrists or fingers, a pain in the balls of the feet, so walking is difficult. Big swollen knees and ankles could be found. But morning stiffness, so stiffness getting up in the morning, of the joints lasting for more than 30 to 60 minutes is quite a typical finding in rheumatoid arthritis.

People with rheumatoid arthritis are often very fatigued, as well. They have flu-like symptoms. They may get nodules under their skin around the elbows and fingers and toes, which we call rheumatoid nodules.

Later on they may develop symptoms in the lungs, such as shortness of breath. But early on it's swelling and pain around the joints. People know that something is wrong. They may not seek medical attention because they might - someone may have told them it's just arthritis, but it really isn't just arthritis. It is something that needs to be caught early.

If you have any questions about rheumatoid arthritis or think you have rheumatoid arthritis, please see your healthcare provider for more information.

Presenter: Dr. Kam Shojania, Rheumatologist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Rheumatologist