Rheumatoid arthritis

A long-term condition that can be managed with the right treatments to reduce discomfort and minimise flare-ups

About

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in multiple joints in your body. The symptoms usually affect your hands, feet and wrists. It is important that rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed early so that effective treatment can be given as soon as possible.

Need to know

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Symptoms may include:

painful and swollen joints
stiffness
tiredness

Diagnosis

Your consultant will speak to you about your symptoms, discuss your medical history and perform a physical examination of your affected joints. To confirm a diagnosis they may carry out blood tests or take an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan of the affected joints.

Potential treatment options

Treatment options include:

over-the-counter painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
steroids
biologics, a new family of drugs specifically targeting molecules important in inflammation
in severe cases, surgery may be recommended; procedures include hip, knee and ankle replacements