If you are showing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in the knee, you may first notice a swelling around and below the knee joint. The knee joint may be stiff in the morning due to lack of movement when sleeping, but may get better with activity throughout the day. It also may be tender to the touch. Some people say that their knee joint feels like it may snap and is really hot inside. In addition, since rheumatoid arthritis is usually a symmetrical disease, both of your knees will most likely be affected.

If there is significant damage to the knee joint, the knee may appear malaligned or crooked to the naked eye. Also if you have rheumatoid arthritis in the knee, you will most likely have one or more of the other symptoms that are prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis:

• swelling and pain in one or more joints, lasting six weeks or more
• fatigue and/or weakness
• stiffness following periods of immobility which gradually improves with movement
• general sickness, mild fevers, anemia and weight loss
• fluid accumulation, especially around the ankles