Rheumatoid Arthritis: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as RA, inflammatory arthritis.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defences attack the joints, causing pain, swelling and morning stiffness — typically in the small joints of both hands and feet. Unlike ordinary wear-and-tear arthritis, it can damage joints permanently if untreated, so early specialist treatment matters.
Symptoms
Pain and swelling in the same joints on both sides
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
Swollen, tender knuckles and wrists
Fatigue and general unwellness
Low-grade fever
Firm lumps (nodules) near elbows
Gradual joint deformity if untreated
Causes & risk factors
Autoimmune attack on the joint lining (exact trigger unknown)
Genetic predisposition
Smoking increases risk and severity
More common in women
Treatment & self-care
Treatment uses disease-modifying medicines prescribed and monitored by a physician or rheumatologist to suppress the immune attack and protect the joints, alongside short-term anti-inflammatory relief. Physiotherapy keeps joints mobile and strong. Starting treatment early — within months of symptoms — is what prevents deformity.
See a doctor urgently if
Joint pain and swelling in both hands lasting over six weeks
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes daily
Joint symptoms with fever or weight loss
Existing RA that flares despite treatment
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Early signs often include pain and swelling in the same joints on both sides, morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, swollen, tender knuckles and wrists. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Rheumatoid Arthritis be treated?
Treatment uses disease-modifying medicines prescribed and monitored by a physician or rheumatologist to suppress the immune attack and protect the joints, alongside short-term anti-inflammatory relief. Physiotherapy keeps joints mobile and strong. Starting treatment early — within months of symptoms — is what prevents deformity.
When should I see a doctor about Rheumatoid Arthritis?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: joint pain and swelling in both hands lasting over six weeks; morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes daily; joint symptoms with fever or weight loss; existing ra that flares despite treatment.