Arthritis as a whole sucks. I don't have RA, but I've had reactive arthritis since I was little & I'm still untreated. Doctors kept saying it was "growing pains" & brushing it off. RA doesn't only affect your joints, despite what most people believe! It affects nerves, connective tissues, & also organs if you're having a bad enough of an inflammatory spell. My arthritis is essentially Rheumatic in nature, only it doesn't lead to joint deformation.
Best of luck though! And don't take too many NSAIDs over the counter... They can really mess you up. I took Advil/Aleve religiously for years & wound up with ulcers & chest pain.