2. Joint Inflammation
One of the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation, or redness surrounding the joint area. This inflammation may appear as though you have a rash or something causing it to look light red. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis and it is telling you that your body is attacking something that is not right. For individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, this is most likely your body’s immune system attacking the joint space and bone structure, which may be why you have such inflammation. If you notice that your joint area, or multiple joint areas, is red, consider applying some cool packs to the area and you can even consider elevating the limb for about 10 minutes as needed.