Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - of the hands is a long-term (chronic) disease that causes inflammation of the joints in the hand. The inflammation can be so severe that it affects how the joints and other parts of the body look and function. RA may cause deformities in the joints of the fingers and hand. This makes moving your hands difficult. Lumps, known as rheumatoid nodules, may form. RA mainly affects people as they get old, however juveniles can also get this as growing pains. Unlike adult RA, which lasts a lifetime, children often outgrow JRA. But the disease can affect bone development in a growing child. There is no cure for RA. But it is important to help keep your joints working well by reducing pain and inflammation. Work on a treatment plan with your healthcare provider that includes medicine and physical therapy, lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life like; Activity and rest. To reduce stress on your joints, switch between activity and rest. This can help protect your joints and lessen your symptoms. Using assistive devices. Canes, crutches, and walkers can help to keep stress off certain joints and to improve balance. Using adaptive equipment. Reachers and grabbers let you extend your reach and reduce straining. Dressing aids help you get dressed more easily.