It takes a medical degree, a 3 year Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship to learn how to best treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. There are many nuances and caveats and even seasoned rheumatologists find themselves asking for help from colleagues. But it doesn’t serve anyone to leave all the decision making to the doctor. Although the topic can get complicated, there are concepts that everyone with RA should be familiar with. Understanding the strategy behind why your doctor prescribes certain medications can ensure that you continue to have productive and effective conversations.
[Read more…] about Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment – pt 1Archives for July 2021
Know the Facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis (part 2)
We’ve discussed what it is, who gets it and how we make a diagnosis (and if you missed it, check out our previous post). But WHY does this happen? And can it be avoided? Rheumatoid arthritis is truly life changing. Getting the right rheumatoid arthritis information and understanding how and why our bodies do this can help us gain back control.
So why Rheumatoid Arthritis? What causes it and why did this happen to you? Well, as with most things rheumatic, it’s complicated. Genetics most definitely plays a big role. Having a family member with RA will put everyone in the family at higher risk for developing, not only RA, but any autoimmune condition. This is why it’s so important to know your family history.
[Read more…] about Know the Facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis (part 2)Know the facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis (part 1)
When getting a new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, I find that most people need to start with the basics. It can be overwhelming. I know that not much beyond “You have Rheumatoid Arthritis” is heard and that everyone will need time to digest all the information out there.
So let’s talk about some Rheumatoid Arthritis facts and start with “What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?” RA is an autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder. Seen in almost 1% of the US population, RA is more often seen in women compared to men and usually happens during middle age.
[Read more…] about Know the facts: Rheumatoid Arthritis (part 1)