Is my journey beginning?

The last 10 days have been rough. Everyday my joints hurt. Some days it is all of them and some days it is worse in one joint vs. another joint. Two days this past week I could not move my left arm and the pain was unbearable. The pain changes throughout the day but it has been constant. However, it seems that all the sgtrange things that have been happening over the years and recent months are coming together and it is not a picture I wanted to see. I think I have RA.
I will be calling my doctor tomorrow to schedule an appointment and to be tested. Part of me so wants it to NOT be RA but if it isn't then WHAT is it? If it is how can I afford the medical care this disease causes? Will it get worse before it gets better? Will I tolerate the medications? I already know I can't take oral prednisone (full on systemic allergic reaction) and I don't know that I can take sulfasalazine.