Call your health professional immediately if you have:

• Sudden, unexplained swelling and pain in any joint or joints.
• Joint pain associated with a fever or rash.
• Pain that is so severe that you cannot use the joint.

Call your health professional within the next few days if you have:

• Mild to moderate joint pain that continues and has not improved for over 6 weeks.
• Side effects that occur with large doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other medication used to treat your arthritis.

Watchful Waiting

It is reasonable to try home treatment for mild joint pain and stiffness. If there is no improvement after 6 weeks, or if any other symptoms are present, call your doctor.

Early treatment can slow and sometimes prevent significant joint damage. Therefore, if you have symptoms similar to rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to see your health professional to determine whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment allows for possible reduction of joint pain, slows joint destruction, and reduces the chance of permanent disability.

Who to See

Early arthritis symptoms can be diagnosed by:

• A nurse practitioner.
• A physician assistant.
• A family medicine doctor.
• An internist.
• A rheumatologist.
• An orthopedic surgeon.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated by a:

• Family medicine doctor or internist in consultation with a rheumatologist.
• Specialist in inflammatory diseases of the joints (rheumatologist).
• Specialist in bone, muscle, and joint problems (orthopedic surgeon) if surgery is being considered to treat joint problems.

Supportive treatment can be provided by:

• A physical therapist, to assist with exercise and pain management (physical therapy).
• An occupational therapist, to assist with splinting or assistive devices (occupational therapy).
• A counselor, to help manage emotional issues that may occur in a long-term illness (counseling).