It takes an average of 5 years before patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis become diagnosed with the disease. By this time, they have contracted significant disability or disfigurement.
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26010598)

Most patients are mistaken to have gout or osteoarthrits and are given medications which take away the pain temporarily but don’t prevent progression of disease.