Diagnosis
Rheumatoid arthritis can be extremely difficult to diagnose early, as the symptoms are similar to many medical conditions and are often put down to ageing first.
As rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease, which in some cases can be very rapid, receiving a proper RA diagnosis as early as possible makes treatment much easier and more effective. If someone is currently experiencing the symptoms described here, he/she should discuss them with a doctor to investigate whether it could be rheumatoid arthritis.
In diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis, a doctor will take a history of symptoms and examine your joints for inflammation and deformity. Blood tests and x-rays may also be taken to help confirm a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.