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Rheumatoid Arthritis Essentials:


RA is one of the most delibitating autoimmune disease in the over 100 different types of rheumatic diseases in the arthritis family-group of musculoskeletal diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most misrepresented and misquoted rheumatic disease.There are basically,mild,moderate,severe and,RA that charachterizes stiffness as the main feature. Each type affects patients in different forms and effects. That also applies to therapy. One medication will be efficacious for one and do nothing for another patient.

Educate yourself ! Get control of your disease ! Avoid "hear- say" advice. Distinguish truth from fiction. Avoid advice about Aunt Martha's arthritis and how Cousin Jane coped with her condition.

RA affects 1% of the population in the U.S.A.,this low prevelance means that many physicians and health care workers are unfamiliar with the different types and effects of rheumatoid arthritis that exists. RA is a systemic disease meaning that if your left side of the body e.g., hand/knee is affected then it is more then likely that your right hand/knee will be also affected. Disease symptoms can occur suddenly or develop gradually. Full symptoms may not occur at onset. Remission is rare but when it occurs it is usually,more associated with the milder form of disease. There are periods when the disease is less active and episodes of "flare ups" where disease activity is more pronounced.

There are many articles written about rheumatoid arthritis but be aware of the accuracy of information provided. Search engines use"keywords" Most popular sites is often the incorrect avenue to pursue. Since their are over 100 different "arthritis" or rheumatic disease groups in the family tree.

Advice is cheap and abundant but the wrong advice can be costly. Do not always believe what you hear! There are many family physicians experienced in the management and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but there are many who are not and this relates more to medications with some side effects. There are nurses with advanced training in the management of rheumatic diseases but there are many who have had little or no experience and training with the different types of rheumatic diseases.

There are pain syndromes like fibromyalgia (FM)-chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Most people do not associate gout with arthritis or realize tuberculosis is associated with infectious arthritis. Lupus has many different types and some forms of the disease can be life-threatening while some types can last for a short period and quickly go into remission, with no lasting effect,some people don't even have to take medications. Others think the only arthritis is degenerative osteoarthritis. "Live long enough and most people will have some form of arthritis."