Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with symmetrical joint arthritis which causes not only joint damage but also problems in other tissues and organs of the body.Rheumatoid arthritis is among the most debilitating of them all, causing joints to ache and throb and eventually become deformed. The disease can occur at any age, but it begins most often between the ages of 25 and 55. The disease is more common in older people. The pain is worse for some people. For some people they feel throbbing and some will feel stiffness. I live with RA now for the last 3 months. I have had pains in my hands and fingers. I went into the E.R. to see what was going on and they told me I had to see an RA doctor. I did, and he told me that I had RA in all my joints. I have taken many tests for this and been on prednisone for now. I know the pain and let me tell you it is not fun to wake up in the middle of the night stiff and hurting. I hope and pray I get better. I know this is a disease and a condition I can not live out. I have to deal with it and get through it. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition. The exact cause is unknown, but it’s believed to be the body’s immune system attacking the synovium – the tissue that lines your joints. Young and old can be affected by this disease. The conditions are classified according to the number of joints affected, the signs and symptoms, and the results of blood tests. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects three times more women than men and this often means that the problems experienced by men who have R.A. get overlooked or even ignored. Treatments vary according to early, intermediate or late stages of disease. Your doctor will put you on a medication to prevent damage and pain. The worse your joints get you may need surgery. Some of the medicines for people who suffer from RA are:

Remicade
Enbrel
Humira
Methotrexate

RA usually requires lifelong treatment, including various medications, physical therapy, education, and possibly surgery to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Frequently, the disease can be controlled with a combination of treatments. Treatment varies depending on the severity of the symptoms. Surgery may be needed, if medications fail. You may need hip or knee replacement. There is no cure for this disease that is why we need to stay strong and be healthy. We can fight this.