Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) : Managing Your ...

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. Women are twice as likely to get the disease as men, and the age of onset is usually 30 to 50 years. Destruction of cartilage, erosion of the bones, and loss of use of the joint itself can occur offer time. Working with your health care team to effectively manage the pain and discomfort is crucial to prevent complications and disability. Joint destruction begins within a few weeks of the onset of symptoms so prompt treatment is essential to preserve joint function and quality of life. Medications will be your number one ally in managing rheumatoid arthritis, but here are some other things that have proven beneficial.

Keep Moving: A sedentary lifestyle can weaken the muscles and increase fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Walking, tai chi, light swimming and water aerobics are just a few of the low-impact exercises that can boost your strength and endurance. Listen to your body: Increased pain from a particular activity is a signal to slow down. Work with your health care team to develop an exercise plan that benefits your unique condition. Don't forget to stretch to maintain flexibility!

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease involving the joints and surrounding tissues. Early, aggressive treatment is recommended to minimize pain, reduce joint damage and prevent deformity. An individualized "step-up" or "step-down" approach using a combination of drugs, physical therapy and sometimes surgery is tailored depending on response to treatment.

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