Pain Relievers (Analgesics)...Analgesics are a type of medicine used to relieve pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Typically, analgesics will be recommended during flare-ups, and they are usually used as... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)...Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used pain medicines. They are also often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). NSAIDs not only can relieve pain, but they are also effective... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Lung Diseases and Conditions...Among extra-articular (this literally means “outside of the joints”) manifestations of RA, lung conditions are the most common. A variety of lung diseases and conditions, most involving inflammation, including pleuritis... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Cervical Spine Pain and Stiffness...The cervical spine is that portion of the spine that runs from the shoulder to the base of the head. There are seven vertebrae and several joints contained in the... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Hip swelling and stiffness...The hip joint joins the femur (thigh bone) to the pelvis using a special type of ball and socket joint. It supports much of the weight of the body and... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Pain...Pain affecting not only the joints but the body as a whole is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of RA. Acute and chronic pain can affect your... By Editorial Team 7 min readBookmark for later
Specialized diagnostic tests...Other specialized tests that may be useful in assessing selected patients include analysis of synovial fluid, arthroscopy, and laboratory testing to detect possible infection. Analysis of synovial fluid (the... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Imaging Tests to Diagnose and Track Rheumatoid Arthritis...Imaging tests are commonly used to diagnose and track rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some tests may be more useful in early stages of the disease. Others are better for tracking RA... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
The Role of Physical Exams in Diagnosing RA...Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune form of arthritis. It is caused by immune cells attacking the joints, most commonly the joints of the fingers, wrists, elbows, and toes. This... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Medical history...Medical history is an important tool in diagnosing RA. When your doctor takes your medical history, he or she will ask many questions about your present symptoms and past medical... By Editorial Team 5 min readBookmark for later
Tools Your Doctor Will Use to Diagnose RA...There are a number of tools a doctor uses to determine a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as disease activity. This includes a thorough physical examination, taking a... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for later
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis...Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic (long-term) condition that causes: RA symptoms tend to occur in joints evenly on both sides of the body. If left untreated, RA will destroy... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Psoriatic Arthritis...Similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory condition. PsA affects the joints and tendons. It often occurs in people who have psoriasis, which is an inflammatory... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Osteoarthritis...Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 26.9 million people in the US and accounting for more disability than any other chronic disease, including heart disease, diabetes, and... By Editorial Team 4 min readBookmark for later
Other Types of Arthritis...Arthritis is a health condition where you experience stiffness, inflammation, and discomfort in 1 or more joints. The condition affects people of different age groups, including children and teenagers. Certain... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
RA Myths and Facts...RA is a chronic disease, which means that even with effective treatment a person with RA will continue to have the disease throughout his or her life. However, this does... By Editorial Team 8 min readBookmark for later
Lung Diseases and RA...A variety of lung diseases, including pleuritis, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary rheumatoid nodules, and interstitial lung disease (ie. bronchiolitis and pneumonia), can affect patients with RA. Abnormal airway function is common... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome...Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common forms of entrapment neuropathies. These conditions as a group affect an estimated 4 to 10 million people in the US. Carpal... By Editorial Team 3 min readBookmark for later
Lupus and RA...Similar to RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system turns against the body and attacks healthy normal... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
Secondary Sjögren’s Syndrome and RA...Sjögren’s syndrome (pronounced SHOW-grens), like RA, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissue. In Sjögren’s syndrome, the immune system attacks various organs... By Editorial Team 2 min readBookmark for later
