Rheumatoid arthritis | NHS

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is when joints in your body get sore and swollen. Joints help us move different parts of our body. This is an illness that can make it hard to move and can hurt.

Here are some ways to help:

• Use simple words when talking about how you feel.
• Ask family, friends, or a doctor to help explain things.
• Look at pictures or videos about rheumatoid arthritis to understand better.

What are the signs of rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that hurts your joints. Here are some signs to look for:

• Pain in your joints.
• Red and swollen joints.
• Your joints feel warm.
• Stiffness, especially in the morning.
• Feeling very tired.

If you have any of these signs, talk to a doctor. It can help to use pictures and videos to understand more.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that makes your joints hurt and swell. We don't know exactly why it happens, but here are some things that might cause it:

• Body Fight Cells: The body's defense, called the immune system, sometimes attacks healthy parts like joints by mistake.
• Family: If someone in your family has it, you might get it too.
• Smoking: People who smoke are more likely to get it.
• Gender: It is more common in women.

What can help:

• Talk to a doctor if you feel pain in your joints.
• Talking with others who have the disease can be helpful.
• Exercise can help your joints feel better.

Who can get rheumatoid arthritis the most?

How do doctors find out if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a sickness that makes your joints hurt and swell.

Doctors do some tests to find out if you have it:

• Talk about Symptoms: The doctor will ask how you feel.
• Check Your Joints: The doctor will look at your joints. They want to see if they are red, hurt, or swollen.
• Blood Test: A small needle hurts a bit but shows if you have this sickness.
• Images: Pictures like X-rays or scans help doctors see inside your body.

If you think you have rheumatoid arthritis, see a doctor. They help make you feel better.

Tip: Keep a diary of pain. Write down when it hurts. This helps the doctor understand.

What treatments can help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that makes your joints hurt and swell. There are ways to help you feel better:

• Medicine: A doctor can give you medicine to help with pain and swelling.
• Exercise: Moving your body can help keep your joints flexible.
• Rest: It's important to get enough sleep and rest your body.
• Healthy Eating: Eating good food can help your body stay strong.
• Physical Therapy: A therapist can show you exercises to help your joints.

If you find it hard to read, you can ask someone to read it to you or use a tool that reads text aloud.

Can changing how you live help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Is there medicine for rheumatoid arthritis?

Yes, some medicines can help with rheumatoid arthritis. These medicines can make the pain and swelling better.

Talk to a doctor to find out which medicine is best for you. The doctor can help you feel better.

Using pictures, audio books, or asking a helper can make it easier to understand this information.

Can you inherit rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a health problem that makes joints hurt and swell. Some people can get it from their family. This means if a parent or grandparent has it, you might get it too. Not everyone in a family will get it, but it's possible.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis in your family, talk to a doctor. They can help you understand more and give advice to keep your joints healthy.

Using picture guides or asking a friend for help can make this easier to understand.

Can rheumatoid arthritis be cured?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a sickness in your joints. It can make your joints hurt and swell up.

Right now, doctors can't make rheumatoid arthritis go away forever. But there are medicines that can help make the pain and swelling better.

Going to a doctor can help you find ways to feel better. They can give you medicine or exercises to help your joints.

If reading is hard, you can use tools like audiobooks or ask someone to read with you. You can also use pictures to help understand better.

How does physiotherapy help with rheumatoid arthritis?

When someone has rheumatoid arthritis, their joints can get very sore and stiff. Physiotherapy is a type of treatment that helps make these joints feel better. A physiotherapist is a trained person who shows exercises and movements to help.

Here's how physiotherapy can help:

• Exercises: Special exercises keep the joints moving and strong.
• Massage: Rubbing the muscles can make them relax and hurt less.
• Hot and Cold Packs: Putting warm or cold packs can help reduce pain and swelling.

To make it easier, you can use pictures or videos that show how to do the exercises. Also, ask someone to help you remember the steps, or practice with a friend.

Why is it important to find out early if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

It is good to know early if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Finding out early can help you feel better faster. Doctors can give you medicine and exercises to help. You can use pictures or watch videos to learn more. Ask someone to help you understand if you need it.

Can different treatments help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is when your joints hurt and get swollen.

Some people try different treatments to feel better. These are called "alternative therapies."

Here are some treatments people try:

• Exercise: Moving your body can make you feel better.
• Massage: Rubbing sore areas can help with pain.
• Hot and Cold Packs: Warm or cold things on your joints can soothe pain.

Always talk to a doctor before trying new things.

You can use tools like picture cards or ask someone to explain to help understand better.

What to Do if You Think You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you think you have rheumatoid arthritis, here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to a Doctor: Tell your doctor how you feel. They can help you understand what is happening.
• Write Down Symptoms: Make a list of any pain or stiffness you feel. This can help the doctor know what is wrong.
• Ask for Tests: Your doctor might need to do some tests to check if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Use Tools: Use things like a diary to keep track of how you feel each day.
• Get Support: Talk to family or friends. They can help and support you.

Remember, it is important to see a doctor to get the right help.

What is different between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is when your joints hurt. Joints are where two bones meet, like your knees or elbows.

There are different kinds of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis:

• It is when your body's defense system gets confused. It attacks the joints by mistake.
• This can happen at any age, even if you are young.
• Your joints may feel warm, swollen, and hurt a lot.

Osteoarthritis:

• This kind happens because joints get worn out.
• It is more common as people get older.
• Your joints might feel stiff or sore when you move.

If you or someone you know has trouble with these, tools like pictures or talking with a helper can be useful. There are also apps that read text out loud.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is when joints in your body get sore and swollen. Joints help us move different parts of our body. This is an illness that can make it hard to move and can hurt.

Here are some ways to help:

• Use simple words when talking about how you feel.
• Ask family, friends, or a doctor to help explain things.
• Look at pictures or videos about rheumatoid arthritis to understand better.

What are the signs of rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that hurts your joints. Here are some signs to look for:

• Pain in your joints.
• Red and swollen joints.
• Your joints feel warm.
• Stiffness, especially in the morning.
• Feeling very tired.

If you have any of these signs, talk to a doctor. It can help to use pictures and videos to understand more.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that makes your joints hurt and swell. We don't know exactly why it happens, but here are some things that might cause it:

• Body Fight Cells: The body's defense, called the immune system, sometimes attacks healthy parts like joints by mistake.
• Family: If someone in your family has it, you might get it too.
• Smoking: People who smoke are more likely to get it.
• Gender: It is more common in women.

What can help:

• Talk to a doctor if you feel pain in your joints.
• Talking with others who have the disease can be helpful.
• Exercise can help your joints feel better.

Who can get rheumatoid arthritis the most?

How do doctors find out if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a sickness that makes your joints hurt and swell.

Doctors do some tests to find out if you have it:

• Talk about Symptoms: The doctor will ask how you feel.
• Check Your Joints: The doctor will look at your joints. They want to see if they are red, hurt, or swollen.
• Blood Test: A small needle hurts a bit but shows if you have this sickness.
• Images: Pictures like X-rays or scans help doctors see inside your body.

If you think you have rheumatoid arthritis, see a doctor. They help make you feel better.

Tip: Keep a diary of pain. Write down when it hurts. This helps the doctor understand.

What treatments can help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that makes your joints hurt and swell. There are ways to help you feel better:

• Medicine: A doctor can give you medicine to help with pain and swelling.
• Exercise: Moving your body can help keep your joints flexible.
• Rest: It's important to get enough sleep and rest your body.
• Healthy Eating: Eating good food can help your body stay strong.
• Physical Therapy: A therapist can show you exercises to help your joints.

If you find it hard to read, you can ask someone to read it to you or use a tool that reads text aloud.

Can changing how you live help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Is there medicine for rheumatoid arthritis?

Yes, some medicines can help with rheumatoid arthritis. These medicines can make the pain and swelling better.

Talk to a doctor to find out which medicine is best for you. The doctor can help you feel better.

Using pictures, audio books, or asking a helper can make it easier to understand this information.

Can you inherit rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a health problem that makes joints hurt and swell. Some people can get it from their family. This means if a parent or grandparent has it, you might get it too. Not everyone in a family will get it, but it's possible.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis in your family, talk to a doctor. They can help you understand more and give advice to keep your joints healthy.

Using picture guides or asking a friend for help can make this easier to understand.

Can rheumatoid arthritis be cured?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a sickness in your joints. It can make your joints hurt and swell up.

Right now, doctors can't make rheumatoid arthritis go away forever. But there are medicines that can help make the pain and swelling better.

Going to a doctor can help you find ways to feel better. They can give you medicine or exercises to help your joints.

If reading is hard, you can use tools like audiobooks or ask someone to read with you. You can also use pictures to help understand better.

How does physiotherapy help with rheumatoid arthritis?

When someone has rheumatoid arthritis, their joints can get very sore and stiff. Physiotherapy is a type of treatment that helps make these joints feel better. A physiotherapist is a trained person who shows exercises and movements to help.

Here's how physiotherapy can help:

• Exercises: Special exercises keep the joints moving and strong.
• Massage: Rubbing the muscles can make them relax and hurt less.
• Hot and Cold Packs: Putting warm or cold packs can help reduce pain and swelling.

To make it easier, you can use pictures or videos that show how to do the exercises. Also, ask someone to help you remember the steps, or practice with a friend.

Why is it important to find out early if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

It is good to know early if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Finding out early can help you feel better faster. Doctors can give you medicine and exercises to help. You can use pictures or watch videos to learn more. Ask someone to help you understand if you need it.

Can different treatments help with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is when your joints hurt and get swollen.

Some people try different treatments to feel better. These are called "alternative therapies."

Here are some treatments people try:

• Exercise: Moving your body can make you feel better.
• Massage: Rubbing sore areas can help with pain.
• Hot and Cold Packs: Warm or cold things on your joints can soothe pain.

Always talk to a doctor before trying new things.

You can use tools like picture cards or ask someone to explain to help understand better.

What to Do if You Think You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you think you have rheumatoid arthritis, here are some steps you can take:

• Talk to a Doctor: Tell your doctor how you feel. They can help you understand what is happening.
• Write Down Symptoms: Make a list of any pain or stiffness you feel. This can help the doctor know what is wrong.
• Ask for Tests: Your doctor might need to do some tests to check if you have rheumatoid arthritis.
• Use Tools: Use things like a diary to keep track of how you feel each day.
• Get Support: Talk to family or friends. They can help and support you.

Remember, it is important to see a doctor to get the right help.

What is different between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis?

Arthritis is when your joints hurt. Joints are where two bones meet, like your knees or elbows.

There are different kinds of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis:

• It is when your body's defense system gets confused. It attacks the joints by mistake.
• This can happen at any age, even if you are young.
• Your joints may feel warm, swollen, and hurt a lot.

Osteoarthritis:

• This kind happens because joints get worn out.
• It is more common as people get older.
• Your joints might feel stiff or sore when you move.

If you or someone you know has trouble with these, tools like pictures or talking with a helper can be useful. There are also apps that read text out loud.