How do I explain rheumatoid arthritis to my family?

Tell them that it's a long-term health condition that affects your joints and other parts of your body. You also may want to mention that it can happen because of your genes or is caused by cigarette smoke and other environmental factors.

How do people describe rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body. RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once.

Why do people not understand rheumatoid arthritis?

Perhaps because of the word “arthritis” in the name, people don't realize that RA is so much more than just joint pain. RA does start in our joints — the body believes the linings of the joints are foreign tissue, so it attacks while damaging the joints, resulting in inflammation and pain.

What do you say to someone who has rheumatoid arthritis?

I'm sorry to hear you can't make it. I would have loved to see you, but I'm glad you're taking care of yourself. As much as we hate to do it, those of us with RA often find ourselves breaking plans. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition, but its symptoms can be intermittent and are often unpredictable.

What is it like living with rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain and swelling, reduced mobility and physical weakness. General tiredness, trouble sleeping and exhaustion are other common symptoms. All of these symptoms can greatly affect your everyday life and overall wellbeing. Living with rheumatoid arthritis isn't always easy.

How I Explain Rheumatoid Arthritis to People

Is RA considered a disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers RA a disability if a person meets the following eligibility criteria: the person's condition is so severe that they will need to be out of work for 12 months or more. the person has gained enough work credits to qualify for disability benefits.

How painful is rheumatoid arthritis?

If you have RA, joint pain can range from mild to moderate or severe. Sometimes it can feel like a sprain or broken bone. Some areas of your body may even be painful to the touch.

What should you not say to someone with rheumatoid arthritis?

What is the life expectancy of a person with rheumatoid arthritis?

The average duration of disease were 10.5 years in male patients and 17.7 years in female. The average life span of the patients with RA, revealing 65.8 years in male and 63.7 years in female, were much shorter than of general population. The causes of all deaths were investigated by ourselves and/or autopsy.

What should you not do if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

What triggers rheumatoid arthritis flare ups?

RA flare-ups are caused by one or more triggers, including diet, stress, illness, weather changes, smoking, and overexertion. The most common signs of RA are joint pain and swelling, fatigue, and joint stiffness, especially in the morning and after sitting for long periods.

What triggers rheumatoid arthritis?

Researchers think it's caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors. Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints. An infection, smoking or physical or emotional stress may be triggering.

Will rheumatoid arthritis cripple me?

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can be a crippling condition that only gets worse with time. Left untreated, the disease almost always attacks at least five joints, and sometimes many more. Without treatment, the deformed joints may become increasingly difficult to move.

What are the 4 stages of rheumatoid arthritis?

How do you explain inflammatory arthritis?

Inflammatory arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your immune system misidentifies your own body tissues as harmful germs or pathogens and attacks them. The result is inflammation of the affected tissues in and around joints.

Can you live a normal life with rheumatoid arthritis?

“80% of sufferers can lead a normal life with the aid of medication. In the past, rheumatoid arthritis meant being condemned to a wheelchair,” says arthritis expert Daniel Aletaha from the Department of Medicine III, (Division of Rheumatology).

What is the best painkiller for rheumatoid arthritis?

NSAIDs. Most people with RA are advised to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to decrease pain and inflammation. NSAIDs are sold over-the-counter, under such names as Advil and Aleve, as well as by prescription, under names such as Mobic and Celebrex.

Does RA get worse with age?

RA usually presents between the ages of 25 and 45 years , but it can affect people of any age. When the onset of RA occurs at a younger age, there is more time for it to progress. Consequently, it may cause more severe symptoms over time and is more likely to lead to complications.

Is rheumatoid arthritis a death sentence?

A person cannot die from RA. However, the widespread inflammation that characterizes the condition can lead to life-threatening complications. According to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Network, a person with RA may have a lifespan that is approximately 10, or at most 15, years shorter than average.

Is rheumatoid arthritis a Covid risk?

If you have an autoimmune condition and/or if you're receiving treatment to control your immune system your risk from COVID-19 is higher. Some types of arthritis are caused by the immune system becoming overactive and attacking healthy parts of the body, such as the joints, by mistake.

Which is worse rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis?

The two conditions can cause similar symptoms, but they have different causes and treatments. OA usually affects fewer joints, and its symptoms are generally limited to the joints. The progression of RA is more difficult to predict, and it can cause more widespread symptoms.

Does rheumatoid arthritis make you tired?

People with rheumatoid arthritis typically have several permanently inflamed joints. The inflammation inside the body can lead to general physical weakness, drowsiness and exhaustion. This feeling of extreme tiredness is also called "fatigue." Some people find this to be the worst symptom of the disease.

Why is rheumatoid arthritis so painful at night?

In people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the body releases less of the anti-inflammatory chemical cortisol at night, increasing inflammation-related pain.

Is RA worse at night?

There is evidence that patients can identify different pain sensations at rest and on activity and that RA activity follows a circadian rhythm with worsening of the illness during the night.

What are the five signs of rheumatoid arthritis?