10. Fatigue or Malaise
Because RA mimics an infection, your body is expending extra resources attacking the infector (in this case, it's mistaken your joints for the infecting agent). This effort will drain your energy and cause you to feel fatigued.
You may also experience:
- a low-grade fever;
- night sweats; or
- sudden weight loss from the unusually expended energy.
9. Red or Black Spots
Watch for little red or black spots on or around your fingernails and fingertips. This may be a sign of tissue death in those areas from inflamed small blood vessels.
These spots are an uncommon indicator of RA. However, when they are present, they indicate a more advanced stage of the disease. A rheumatologist should be consulted immediately upon notice of this symptom. Failure to treat promptly could lead to tissue death, which causes the loss of fingers and toes.
