Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RA Enhancements Understanding
RA Enhancements Understanding
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
Over time, the inflammation of RA can cause damage to the joints. In some patients, this may
lead to permanent joint damage. As this joint damage progresses, in severe cases, it can cause
deformity of the joints and loss of function. It may begin to interfere with daily activities, making
them more difficult and painful to do.
For these reasons, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis as early as possible.
Talk to your doctor. Together, you and your doctor can find a plan to manage your RA.
Inflammation
Cartilage damage
Bone loss
2
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Genetics. People with family members who have RA may be more likely to get it
• Viruses or bacteria. RA may be related to viruses or bacteria that you come in contact with
during your life
Symptoms of the disease may appear, go away for some time, and then return, making
diagnosis even more difficult. But remember, RA is a disease that progresses over time. That is
why it is so important to get an accurate diagnosis as early as possible.
Some of these conditions may be a result of having RA. Medications used to treat RA could
increase some of these risks as well.
3
Know the Signs and Symptoms of RA
Joint pain and swelling may happen slowly and may occur over weeks or months. The small
joints in the wrists and hands are often inflamed first. Over time, other joints may be painful and
swollen due to RA.3
4
RA Glossary
Anemia. Condition in which the number of red blood cells is lower than normal; may be present
in rheumatoid arthritis and cause you to feel tired.
Autoimmune disease. A disease where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues.
Inflammation. Reaction of the immune system to injury or disease. Symptoms include swelling,
redness, heat, pain, and loss of function.
Immune system. A network of special cells and organs that work together to defend the body
against outside threats, such as bacteria and viruses.
Rheumatoid arthritis. A form of arthritis in which the immune system attacks the tissues of
the joints, leading to pain, inflammation, and eventually joint damage.
Remission. A period when symptoms fade or disappear. In RA, this does not mean the disease
itself has gone away.
Rheumatoid nodule. Knot of tissue under the skin. Nodules are often harmless unless they
become infected or cause pain because they appear near a swollen joint.
Rheumatologists. Doctors who are experts in treating rheumatic diseases and could
potentially treat patients with conditions such as arthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and
many others.
Systemic. Affecting the whole body rather than one organ or local area.
For example, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease.
5
Diagnosing and Managing RA
How Is RA Diagnosed?2
There is no one test that can show that you have RA. But your doctor can use a combination of
tools to help diagnose RA:
Physical exam
Symptoms
Lab tests
X-rays
6
Diagnosing and Managing RA
How Is RA Treated?2
Once your doctor has diagnosed your RA, it is very important to start treatment as soon
as possible.
• Reduce pain
The details of your treatment plan will depend on the progress of the disease. Your
rheumatologist can suggest various treatment options, such as lifestyle changes, medications,
and sometimes surgery.
• Pain relievers
• Corticosteroids
Medications that can help reduce inflammation, and may also slow the rate of
joint damage include:
All medications have side effects. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of your
treatment options with your doctor in order to find the proper treatment plan for you.
7
Seeing a Rheumatologist
What Is a Rheumatologist?
After talking with your family doctor, he or she may refer you to a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologists are doctors who can help diagnose and treat patients with diseases of
the joints, muscles, and bones. A rheumatologist knows the signs and symptoms of certain
autoimmune diseases, and is the most qualified to treat patients with RA.5
Together, you and your rheumatologist can find a plan to manage your RA.
8
Seeing a Rheumatologist
• Prepare for your visit. Write down questions, concerns, and symptoms to discuss.
• Be open during your visit. Describe the ways that RA affects your life.
• Consider bringing a family member or friend with you. They may help you stay focused
and recall important points after the visit.
• Bring a list of the medications you’re taking and their dosages. Include prescription
medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements.
• Participate in decisions. You and your rheumatologist can come up with a plan that works
best for you.
• Follow up after the visit. Call the office if you forgot to ask a question during your visit, or if
you are not sure about something the rheumatologist said to you.
Plan your visit with your rheumatologist. Ask questions. Take an active role in
managing your RA.
9
Differences in Certain Types of Arthritis
What Are Some of the Differences Between RA and Other Common Types of Arthritis?
Most people are familiar with the term arthritis. But many people may mistake RA for certain other types of arthritis. Even though the
symptoms may seem the same, the diseases are quite different. Getting an appropriate treatment plan for RA depends on getting an
accurate diagnosis as early as possible. Only a doctor can determine whether you have RA or another type of arthritis.
Type of Autoimmune a rthritis Known as the “wear and A type of autoimmune arthritis A type of autoimmune arthritis
Disease tear” type of arthritis and is associated with psoriasis (a that mostly affects the back and
associated with factors such disease that causes red, scaly hips
as aging, injury, o
r obesity patches on the skin)
Symptoms Joint pain, swelling, and Joint stiffness, pain, and Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, Low back pain and stiffness, as
stiffness; decreased range decreased range of motion as well as tenderness or pain well as tenderness or pain where
of motion; fever, fatigue, where tendons or ligaments attach tendons or ligaments attach to
and loss of energy can a lso to bones. Red, scaly patches of bones
occur skin often on the elbows, knees,
and scalp
Location of Often causes swelling in Usually affects weight-bearing Usually affects the ankles, knees, Mostly affects the joints of the
Symptoms pairs of joints—especially joints (ie, back, hip, knee) as fingers, toes, and lower back spine and also where the spine
smaller ones (both hands, well as the neck, small finger attaches to the hips
both ankles, etc.) joints, and big toe
Time of Day Generally worse in the Tends to get worse with Tends to be worse in the morning Usually worse after a period of
morning or after long rest activity throughout the day or after a period of rest rest or after waking in the morning
and lack of activity and may also improve with
exercise
Age of Onset Usually occurs between 30 Most commonly affects Usually occurs between 30 and 55 Most often begins from the late
and 60 years of age, though middle-aged and older people years of age. Skin symptoms often teens to 35 years
can occur at any age appear first
Prevalence Approximately 1.3 million An estimated 27 million Between 6% and 42% of all people An estimated 0.2% of people
people have RA in the US people have osteoarthritis in in the US with psoriasis have in the US have ankylosing
the US psoriatic arthritis spondylitis
10
Resources
Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org
RA.com
www.RA.com
Make an appointment with your doctor today. Together, you and your doctor can find
a plan to manage your RA.
Refe r e nc es: 1. Weinblat t M, Kurit zk y L. R APID: rheumatoid ar thritis. J Fam Pract. 20 07 Apr;56(4 Suppl):S1-S7; quiz S8. 2 . National Institute
of A r thritis and Musculoskeletal and Sk in Dise ase s (NIAMS). Handout on health: rheumatoid ar thritis. 20 09. ht tp://w w w.niams.nih.gov/He alth
_ Info/Rheumatic _ Disease/default.asp. Accessed July 18, 2012. 3. Lipsk y PE. Rheumatoid ar thritis. In: Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Longo DL, et al,
eds. Harrison’s Principles of Inte rnal Me dicine. 17th ed. New York, NY; McGraw-Hill; 20 08:2083-2092. 4. A merican College of Rheumatology
S u b c o m m i t te e o n R h e u m ato i d A r th r i ti s G u i d e l i n e s. G u i d e l i n e s fo r th e m a n a g e m e nt of r h e u m ato i d a r th r i ti s: 20 02 u p d ate. A r t h r i t i s R h e u m.
2002 Feb;46(2):328-346. 5. American College of Rheumatology. What is a rheumatologist? Atlanta, GA: American College of Rheumatology, 2010.
http://w w w.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/rheumatologist. Accessed May 7, 2012. 6. National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and
Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center. Osteoporosis and ar thritis: t wo common but dif ferent conditions. ht tp://w w w.niams.nih.gov
/He alth _ Info/Bone/Oste oporosis/Conditions _ Be haviors/oste oporosis _ ar thritis.asp. Acce ssed July 18, 2012. 7. A r thritis Foundation. W ho gets
rheumatoid ar thritis? ht tp://w w w.ar thritis.org /who-gets-rheumatoid-ar thritis.php. Accessed August 29, 2012. 8. A r thritis Foundation. What is
osteoar thritis? http://w w w.ar thritis.org/what-is-osteoar thritis.php. Accessed July 18, 2012. 9. Ar thritis Foundation. Who gets osteoar thritis—and
why? http://w w w.ar thritis.org/who-gets-osteoar thritis.php. Accessed August 10, 2012. 10. Ar thritis Today. All about psoriatic ar thritis. http://w w w
.a r th r i ti s to d ay.o rg /c o n d i ti o n s /p s o r i ati c -a r th r i ti s /p s o r i ati c -a r th r i ti s-sy m pto m s.p h p. Ac c e s s e d S e pte m b e r 21, 2012. 11. A r th r i ti s Fo u n d ati o n.
A n k y l o s i n g s p o n d y l i ti s—w h at i s i t? ht tp://w w w.a r th r i ti s.o rg /d i s e a s e - c e nte r.p h p?d i s e a s e _ i d =2. Ac c e s s e d S e pte m b e r 21, 2012. 12 . A r th r i ti s
Fo u n d ati o n. A n k y l o s i n g s p o n d y l i ti s—w h at a re th e ef fe c ts? ht tp://w w w.a r th r i ti s.o rg /d i s e a s e - c e nte r.p h p?d i s e a s e _ i d =2&d f= ef fe c ts. Ac c e s s e d
S e pte m b e r 21, 2012. 13 . A r th r i ti s Fo u n d ati o n. A n k y l o s i n g s p o n d y l i ti s—w h o i s at r i s k ? ht tp://w w w.a r th r i ti s.o rg /d i s e a s e - c e nte r.p h p?d i s e a s e
_id=2&df=whos_at_risk. Accessed September 24, 2012.