Q: My aunt has rheumatoid arthritis, and her doctor has told her that it is not of a crippling nature and will not damage the joints. I have never heard of this before. Is it possible to have rheumatoid arthritis that does not eventually damage the joints?

A:Yes, it is possible to have mild rheumatoid arthritis, which does not damage joints. However, the predictability may not be accurate in the early stages of the disease (first 2 years).