Rheumatoid arthritis can last a lifetime. As the years pass, the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can spread to other organs, causing a variety of health problems. In some cases, the complications of rheumatoid arthritis can be deadly.

There is the kind of pain that happens when you stub a toe or slice your finger cutting vegetables. Then there is chronic pain, an enduring pain that can last for weeks, months, or even years.