Why Does RA Cause Joint Pain in the Morning? Plus, 5 Ways to Deal With It

Everyone can feel a bit tight in the morning now and then, but a few stretches as you climb out of bed usually solve the problem when it’s garden-variety stiffness. The joint pain and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis, however, is on another level.  

Here’s why your joint pain is worse in the morning when you have RA: The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis stem from inflammation from the immune system. For more tips on managing RA symptoms, here are tips for living with rheumatoid arthritis from Michael Kuluva, a fashion designer and patient coping with RA.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts