H E A LT H TO P I C S
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT RA
By L. Megan Hill, RN
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder, which
means your body’s immune system, which normally fights
infections, fights your own body instead. RA causes
inflammation (swelling) to the lining of the joints causing pain
and stiffness. A joint is the place where two bones meet
together.
RA can affect many joints, such as knees, ankles, hips, fingers,
and can also affect other parts of the body (Eustice, 2014). It
usually affects joints in a symmetrical pattern. For example, if
one knee is affected by RA, the other knee is likely to be
affected as well (Arthritis Foundation, 2014a).
Almost 1% of American adults have rheumatoid arthritis. It can
occur at any age and ethnicity, but usually more women are
affected than men (National Institute of Arthritis &
Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases, 2014).
Do I
have
RA?
(Ratini, 2014)
(Shiel Jr., 2014)
Symptoms common to RA include:
 Joint stiffness in the morning
 Painful, swollen joints
 Symmetrical joint symptoms
 Fatigue
If you have these symptoms and are concerned you may
have rheumatoid arthritis, let your doctor know (Arthritis
Foundation, 2014b).
How do you treat
Rheumatoid
Arthritis?
How does my
doctor know
if I have RA?
One treatment is not the answer for everyone.
Many people with RA have found one or several
of these treatments to be effective.
There is not a cure for RA, but there are different treatments available to
slow down the process of the disease or help RA symptoms. Your doctor
may recommend one of these options for you:





NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and Corticosteroids: These
medications help to decrease swelling.
DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs): These medications work
with your immune system to slow the progress of your disease.
Biologics: These medications are DMARDs, but typically reserved to treat more
serious disease – can come in injection or IV forms.
Surgery: Sometimes, surgery can help to repair damage in a joint to improve its
function (National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases, 2014).
Other therapies: Many people have found other therapies to be effective in
controlling RA symptoms—change in diet, physical therapy, and vitamin
supplements are examples of other therapies (WebMD, 2014).
The treatment is different because each patient is different. Consult your
,
doctor to decide which treatment is right for you.
Resources
For more information on RA, visit:
Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org
American College of Rheumatology
www.rheumatology.org
Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.org
*Search for ‘rheumatoid arthritis’
National Institute of Arthritis &
Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases
(Ratini, 2014)
Your doctor may want to:





Ask questions about
your symptoms and
history
Do a physical exam
Order X-rays
Order blood tests
Refer you to a
Rheumatologist
(specializes in
treating arthritis)
With this information, your
doctor can determine if you
have Rheumatoid Arthritis
(Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013).
What can I do to
help my RA?
 Stay active! Sitting still can cause your joints to
stiffen
 Lessen the load on your joints by eating right,
exercising, and maintaining your ideal weight
 Find ways to reduce your stress level – high
stress can bring on a “flare-up” (sudden increase
in joint pain)
 See your doctor on a regular basis to monitor
your disease and treatment
 Connect with others who have RA –it’s important
to have good support (Watson, 2014).
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rh
eumatic_Disease/
Copyright © 2014
References
Arthritis Foundation. (2014a). Disease center: rheumatoid arthritis. from
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/disease-center/rheumatoid-arthritis/
Arthritis Foundation. (2014b). Early signs and symptoms of RA. from
http://www.arthritistoday.org/about-arthritis/types-of-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis/whatyou-need-to-know/early-signs-and-symptoms/
Eustice, C. (2014). Rheumatoid arthritis - explained with pictures. Retrieved September 2014,
from http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/ss/pictures_photos.htm
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013). Diseases & conditions: rheumatoid arthritis. from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoidarthritis/basics/definition/con-20014868
National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases. (2014). Handout on health:
rheumatoid arthritis. from http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rheumatic_Disease/
Ratini, M. (2014). Rheumatoid arthritis health center slideshow: understanding rheumatoid
arthritis. Retrieved September 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoidarthritis/ss/slideshow-ra-overview
Shiel Jr., W. C. (2014). Rheumatoid arthritis. from
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/rheumatoid_arthritis/article_em.htm
Watson, S. (2014). The best rheumatoid arthritis blogs of the year. Retrieved September 2014,
from http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-rheumatoid-arthritis-blogs#1
WebMD. (2014). Rheumatoid arthritis diet. from http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-zguides/rheumatoid-arthritis-diet-directory