I don't know for certain, but I think I got it following an infection. I got sick in July of 2020 and remained that way until November of 2020. Then the symptoms started, rashes on my face, pain and swelling in my feet and then my hands. It continually got worse. It progressed to pain in many joints - hips, ankles, wrists, etc... and morning stiffness that lasted many hours.

Hi Joanna,

I was informed I had Osteoarthritis first. The pain started in my neck and hips. It was severe pain. I feel it started in my neck, years before I was diagnosed. It took me several years to be diagnosed and then medicated.

It's difficult to figure out exactly when RA started. Are your medications working for you?

NancyMcShane I think either said or posted on Resources that RA can be brought on by an infection. I think, I am NOT a doctor and this kind of makes sense, your body is increasing its fight against an infection. Hence, powers up your immune system and doesn't know when to switch off. Hence RA or any other autoimmune disease. My hubby's RA was activated by the Pfizer vaccines and ONE booster. He has had a mild to moderate case pf Psoriasis since he was 12 years old (genetically from his father). Our daughter has a MILD case of Psoriasis and had only ONE dose of either Moderna or J & J. Every once in a while I drill into her NOT to get any more mRNA vaccines. I believe that THAT route (mRNA) is the root of all of our problems since I BELIEVE it messes with our DNA. I think that this may be my LAST flu shot since, by 2025, they are going to combine flu and covid vaccines and they WILL be mRNA. Pfizer is in trials NOW! FYI, Shingles vaccine is NOT a LIVE vaccine NOR mRNA. Free under medicare. Everyone is different (sister-in-law who has RA reacted badly to the Shingles vaccine). We had NO problems and got the 2 shots one year ago. Talk to your doctor before getting the Shingles vaccine. We were told TO get it from hubby's RA doctor. Be you OWN best advocate and do your OWN research!.

Hubby started with rapid weight loss after Pfizer booster.