Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. The inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis is what can damage other parts of the body as well. While new types of medications have improved treatment options dramatically, severe rheumatoid arthritis can still cause physical disabilities. Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: Tender, warm, swollen joints Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity Fatigue, fever and loss of appetite Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms may vary in severity and may even come and go. Periods of increased disease activity, called flares, alternate with periods of relative remission — when the swelling and pain fade or disappear. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place. Commonly used medicines to treat it Rhus Tox – To relieve stiffness and pain in joints Rhus Tox helps to relieve joint pains and stiffness by reducing the joint inflammation. Persons needing it mainly have joint stiffness worse in the morning and also after a period of inactivity. Warm applications and motion of affected joints helps to relieve their symptoms. Massaging the joint also offers relief in them. Apis Mellifica – For reducing swelling in joints Apis Mellifica is a well indicated medicine for cases where the joint is highly swollen. Along with this the joint is red, and inflamed. Joint pains which are mainly burning, stinging types are also well treated with Apis. Joint is also sensitive to touch. Bryonia – For red, hot , swollen joints Bryonia is helpful for cases where joints are red, hot and swollen. With this there is pain in joints. The pains are sharp, stitching types. The pain gets worse by motion and better with rest. Warmth may relieve the pain. It is Indicated when mostly knee and elbow joints are involved. Antimonium Crudum – To reduce pain in finger joints It is very beneficial to treat pain in finger joints and reduce its inflammation. Persons needing it mainly have worsening of pain from cold. They find relief by warm applications. Drawing sensation in the fingers may also be felt.Actaea Spicata – For wrist pain and swelling Actaea Spicata is mainly given for cases where wrist pain and swelling are present. Wrist is also red with heat. The pain is worse from motion. It is also indicated to treat pain and swelling in other small joints of fingers, toes and ankle. Caulophyllum – For small joints Caulophyllum is also used for treating arthritis that affects small joints. The small joints are painful and stiff in cases needing it. The joints of fingers, toes, ankle and wrist are affected in such cases. The pain keeps on shifting in minutes from one joint to another . In some cases nodes are present on finger joints. Arnica – For markedly tender joints Arnica is majorly used when the joints are extremely tender. Person has great fear of touching the affected joint due to pain and tenderness. The knee also has sore, bruised pain along with intense swelling.