Although there are a number of different conditions that can affect the health of your joints, one of the most common is arthritis. For many sufferers, the inflamed, painful joints and the limited mobility caused by this disease can make an otherwise enjoyable lifestyle anything but pleasant.

Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms :

• Pain and aching in and around your joints, particularly the hands feet and knees


• Joint stiffness especially in the morning and after sitting or lying for a long time


• Swollen joints particularly hands feet and knees


• Loss of joint function and mobility


• Fatigue


• Muscle weakness which comes from stiff joints and less physical activity


• Weight loss


• Difficulty sleeping because joints are painful


• Feeling generally unwell and nauseous

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?

Rheumatoid arthritis may be diagnosed by a medical professional after one or more of the following:

• A thorough physical examination and assessment by your doctor


• A review of your medical history


• Various blood tests


• X-rays which are used to see if you have any joint or cartilage damage

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Living with rheumatoid arthritis will mean having to make adjustments to how things were and will be in the future. It will mean having to manage pain and discomfort. This will most likely include medicine, physical activity, caring for your joints, using heat and cold to your advantage, and learning new ways of generally coping each day.

Learning to Live With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis of any type is a challenge that will take a lot of time and patience. It can be hard making changes to the way you do your everyday things. But ultimately the results are well worth it, you may have less pain, more movement and a greater enjoyment of life. You may also reduce the chance of further long term damage to your joints.

Many suggestions for management of your arthritis in the future may be explored and explained by your local State representative medical advisory office. There are courses available that have been thoroughly researched and have been shown to reduce pain, improve quality of life, reduce disability and further reduce the dependency of medical interaction.