![[painful wrist]](http://cdn1.medicalnewstoday.com/content/images/articles/304/304463/painful-wrist.jpg)
Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, damage and, ultimately, disability.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "RA causes premature death, disability and a lower quality of life in the industrialized and developing world." It can begin at any age, and it causes fatigue and prolonged stiffness after rest.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease affecting multiple joints in the body.