Rheumatoid Arthritis Health Center

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Rheumatoid Arthritis - Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about rheumatoid arthritis:	What is rheumatoid arthritis? What causes it? What are the symptoms? What increases my risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis? What happens with rheumatoid arthritis? How does a normal joint work? What does rheumatoid arthritis do to my body? What happens to the joints in rheumatoid arthritis? Can rheumatoid arthritis affect parts of the body besides the joints? What is an autoimmune disease? What else could be causing my symptoms? When should I see my doctor? How common is rheumatoid arthritis?
Being diagnosed:	How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed? What do doctors look for in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis? What's the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis? What type of doctor should I see for rheumatoid arthritis?
Getting treatment:	What steps can I take to help control the disease? What medicines can I take for rheumatoid arthritis? What treatments besides medicines might be used for rheumatoid arthritis? Why is early treatment important? When should I consider surgery for rheumatoid arthritis? Are there home treatments for rheumatoid arthritis?
Ongoing concerns:	What type of doctor can best treat my rheumatoid arthritis? How will my doctor monitor my rheumatoid arthritis and treatment? Why is it important that I work closely with my health professionals?
Living with rheumatoid arthritis:	How will rheumatoid arthritis affect my daily activities? Will I be able to continue working if I have rheumatoid arthritis? Can I exercise if I have rheumatoid arthritis? What can I do to manage my life and health with rheumatoid arthritis?

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: August 23, 2006

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