Rheumatoid arthritis does run in my family. If I try to play racquetball or tennis, my right elbow is a mess next day. I get some stiffness when doing a lot of hammering or chopping also. But most other activities like running or bicycling or stacking wood do not seem to bother me.
It wouldn’t hurt to rule it out, especially considering your family history.
With my RA, I have little to no swelling, so no one thought to check for autoimmune disorders until I presented to the ER two weeks in a row with excruciating pain - first in the right shoulder and arm, and the next week it was in the left shoulder and arm.
With x-rays being negative, they questioned me and examined my arms for needle marks to make sure I wasn’t seeking drugs, then sent me on my way. The second ER visit, I was referred to a rheumatologist - and by the time she had diagnosed me, my inflammation was off the charts and my arms and legs were almost frozen from the pain and barely able to walk.
Believe me, you don’t want to wait for it to hit you that way.