Johnny--as I said on another post...RA mostly causes deformity to the joints--and it's symmetrical. If it's the ring finger on the left hand--the same finger will be affected on the right. Wrist, elbow, ankle--whichever joints it effects.
According to my sister with RA--no it doesn't affect her with UMN problems like spasticity and such... It's a disease that attacks the joints and can affect other organs as well.
My grandmother had joints replaced in her hands from it--an aunt did as well. I was tested because of two deformed fingers--but tested negative.
It might help if you posted what tests they did to confirm this RA--an RA factor being positive isn't enough--as other auto-immune conditions can cause a positive RA result. The result must be VERY high and there are several other blood tests that can confirm that diagnosis--along with x-rays.
Below is the diagnostic criteria:
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the early stages can be difficult. There is no single test that can clearly identify rheumatoid arthritis. Instead, doctors diagnose rheumatoid arthritis based on factors that are strongly associated with the disease. The American College of Rheumatology uses this list of criteria:
1. Morning stiffness in and around the joints for at least one hour.
2. Swelling or fluid around three or more joints simultaneously.
3. At least one swollen area in the wrist, hand, or finger joints.
4. Arthritis involving the same joint on both sides of the body (symmetric arthritis).
5. Rheumatoid nodules, which are firm lumps in the skin of people with rheumatoid arthritis. These nodules are usually in pressure points of the body, most commonly the elbows.
6. Abnormal amounts of rheumatoid factor in the blood.
7. X-ray changes in the hands and wrists typical of rheumatoid arthritis, with destruction of bone around the involved joints. However, these changes are typical of later-stage disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis is officially diagnosed if four or more of these seven factors are present. The first four factors must have been present for at least six weeks. More recently, guidelines have changed somewhat in an attempt to diagnose RA in its earlier stages.
Stiffness is in the joints themselves in RA-- not so much the muscles. Do you have the swollen joints and morning stiffness in your joints?