Deformed finger joints in a woman's hand due to severe rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common rheumatic disease (after osteoarthritis), and typically affects the joints of the fingers, wrist, feet and ankles and often the hips and shoulders. The joints are affected symmetrically, with a wide degree of severity. Treatment of the symptoms of pain and restriction of movement in the affected joints is by use of anti-inflammatory drugs; physiotherapy may be used to preserve movement in inflamed joints.