In simple words: RA is a disease where the body's immune system attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and sometimes damage. This code is used when the doctor doesn't specify what kind of RA it is.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the joints. This code specifies that the type of rheumatoid arthritis is not specified.

Example 1: A 45-year-old female presents with joint pain, morning stiffness, and swelling in multiple joints. Blood tests reveal the presence of rheumatoid factor and elevated inflammatory markers. The physician diagnoses rheumatoid arthritis, but further testing is needed to determine the specific type., A patient with a long history of joint pain and stiffness is referred to a rheumatologist. After a thorough evaluation, including imaging and serological tests, the rheumatologist diagnoses unspecified rheumatoid arthritis., A patient experiences persistent joint pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion following a viral infection. The physician suspects rheumatoid arthritis but hasn't yet determined the specific type.

Documentation should include patient history, physical exam findings (joint swelling, tenderness, range of motion), imaging results, laboratory findings (rheumatoid factor, antibodies, inflammatory markers), and synovial fluid analysis (if performed).