Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease which occurs in the joints. The immune system attacks the synovial fluid (the lubricant inside a joint) of otherwise healthy joints and causes an inflammatory condition which is painful and often debilitating.
Women are more prone to this condition than men, and affected joints are often symmetrical.
Management of this condition is often a combination of medications and gentle exercise. In severely debilitated joints a replacement is considered.