RA is a chronic autoimmune disease, meaning it’s a life-long condition in which a person’s immune systemCLOSE Immune system: the body’s natural defense mechanism that responds to infection, injury, and diseases. It can also help heal damaged tissues. attacks joint tissue by mistake. There’s currently no known cure for RA, but certain medications may help to relieve symptoms and prevent joint damage.

If left untreated or undertreated, the irreversible joint damage caused by RA can lead to loss of normal joint movement, making it difficult to complete everyday tasks like walking, climbing, reaching, and gripping.

Goals of treatment should include the following: first, an RA treatment should help to relieve symptoms that are seen and felt, like joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. It should also help to reduce inflammation, prevent or slow joint damage, and improve a person’s ability to function in everyday life.

The symptoms of RA come in flaresCLOSE Flares: periods of increased disease activity. and fade or disappear in periods of decreased disease activity. Even though symptoms may disappear, inflammation—which can lead to irreversible joint damage—is always working in the background. As a result, it’s critical that treatment is continued exactly as prescribed by a person’s doctor.

A rheumatologist knows if RA is under control by asking the patient about his or her symptoms, doing a physical exam of specific joints and tallying how many are tender or swollen, and conducting lab tests.

Many people with RA experience struggles outside of just joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. RA can take a toll on other areas of a person’s life like their self-esteem, relationships, and even their ability to complete everyday tasks. As a result, emotional support is an important part of managing RA.