Which finding is typical of inflammatory arthritis such as RA?

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Inflammatory arthritis is driven by active joint inflammation (synovitis), which increases blood flow, edema, and inflammatory mediators in the joint. This produces warmth, swelling, and often redness of the affected joints, along with tenderness and pain that worsens with movement, and morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes. The presence of swelling with redness and warmth is a classic sign of active inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis. Numbness without pain is not typical of inflammatory arthritis and would suggest a neuropathic or nerve-related issue. Pain with swelling can occur, but the combination of visible swelling plus warmth and erythema most clearly reflects active synovitis. Joint deformity without inflammation would not reflect active inflammatory processes and is not the typical early finding.