Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
RA is a form of autoimmune arthritis that commonly affects the joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. Joint damage from RA can lead to chronic pain, loss of balance, and joint deformity. RA can also affect other organs, including the lungs, heart, and eyes.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are:
- Pain or aching in multiple joints
- Stiffness in multiple joints
- Pain and swelling in multiple joints
- Symptoms that are the same on both sides of the body (such as in both arms or both knees)
- Unwanted weight loss
- Fever
- Tired or depressed
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
This form of autoimmune arthritis can start at any age, but it most often affects people between the ages of 30 and 50. For many people, psoriatic arthritis begins about 10 years after psoriasis develops.
Psoriatic arthritis can develop slowly or quickly. Symptoms include:
- Tired
- Pain, soreness and swelling in the tendons
- Swollen fingers and toes that sometimes look like sausages
- Stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
- Reduced range of motion
- Stiffness and fatigue in the morning
- Changes in the nails, such as pitting or separation from the nail bed
- Red and painful eyes (uveitis)
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of autoimmune arthritis. It causes inflammation between the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine, and in the joints between the spine and pelvis.
This type of autoimmune arthritis occurs more often in men than in women. About 80% of people with the disease have some symptoms before age 30, and 5% will start having symptoms after age 45.
Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis include:
- Inflammation
- Pain
- Stiffness in the shoulders, hips, ribs, heels, and small joints in the hands and feet
- Iritis or uveitis
- Lung and heart problems
Axial spondylitis
Axial spondylitis is another type of autoimmune spondylitis. It usually affects the sacroiliac joints and spine. Joints in the arms and legs are also affected in some cases. People with this condition often have lower back pain.
This form of autoimmune arthritis can progress over time and cause spinal fusion, and can lead to a stooped posture if the spine fuses together in a forward position.
Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis may include:
- Back pain and stiffness that begins slowly or gradually over weeks or months
- Stiffness and pain in the early morning, gradually decreasing or disappearing during the day with exercise
- Lasts longer than three months (rather than occurring in short bursts)
- Feel better after exercise and worse after rest
- Weight loss, especially in the early stages
- Tired or depressed
- Feeling feverish and having night sweats
