Started with pain in left shoulder which they told me was a "frozen shoulder". Pains then started in right wrist and I started feeling very tired and generally ill. In July my right knee flared up and my doctor told me to lose weight and just gave me pain killers. After 6 weeks of excruciating pain I found my own consultant. In September I was put on 25mg a week of methotrexate which has now pushed the RA back into remission. However the side effects of this drug are horrible but I guess the benefits of the drug outweigh the side effects. I'm now back working again full time although I do get extremely tired.

At the onset of my RA, I had swelling in my joints and pain in my hands.

I am 46 year old female, diagnosed with RA a week ago. I've been having these pains in my feet for over a year or so, but I went to foot doctor and he told me it was plantar fasciitis. Later I started having pains one wrist and then the pain jumped to the other and then it went down to my small finger. I was thinking maybe it was carpal tunnel, but now I see all these pains were coming from RA. I usually go to the gym and work out but sometimes the pains had gotten so severe I had to slow up.

I was diagnosed with RA when I was 24 years old, and will be celebrating my 61st soon. I was very ill when diagnosed. I suffered weight loss, fatigue, achy joints and muscles. I also had just had my second child and never stopped post-natal bleeding for about 4 months. I was anemic and could hardly motivate myself to do anything. Over the years I have had three major flares that have really put me out of commission, but always went into remission. My last major flare was alarming - vomiting, malaise, low-grade fevers, heart racing. My doctor put me on methotrexate, the maximum dose per week; folic acid and Enbrel. Enbrel has changed my life! I hate giving myself the injections, but my quality of life has improved significantly. I can see my knuckles for the first time in many years! I do worry a little about the side effects, but so far my only problem has been slight anemia. I will continue with the methotrexate and Enbrel as long as it keeps working for me.

My earliest symptoms were profound fatigue after any exertion, muscle weakness, intermittent low grade fever, loss of strength in my arms and hands, and general malaise.

I turned 40 this year and I was just diagnosed (blood test) with RA. I have been complaining for about two years of extreme fatigue and pain that worsened when I tried to lay down to sleep, and occasional fever. I just found out today that I Have RA. Need to see a Rheumatologist ASAP and am in the process of being referred to a specialist. I am also a full-time student pursuing my RN degree (Registered Nurse). Hopefully I was diagnosed in time so as to effectively manage the symptoms. Hopefully, I will be able to do what I have always wanted to do - be a nurse.

My fingers are getting very crooked and swollen and stiff. I am very tired and people always ask why I sound like I am out of breath. Also, my neck has been hurting for about three months.

At 40 years old, I woke up one morning and could not move my hands. The pain was intense. The urgent care physician immediately knew it was RA. That was 11 years ago. However, for about 7- 10 years prior, I would have bouts of bilateral wrist pain which needed splinting, and pain on the foot between the large and second toe. My main complaint then and now is exhaustion, fatigue and mental fog. That has not improved despite successful management of the joint pain/stiffness. I continue to work fulltime and have no deformities of the joints, but was treated aggressively from the onset. Good luck to those recently diagnosed. It takes trial and error to find the right medication or combination of medications, but once found they work very well. I hope this information helps someone.