Diagnosis
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult, as sometimes blood tests come back negative when the disease is actually active in a person. X-rays can be done to see joint erosion, and a full medical history will help your rheumatologist determine the cause of your pain. Getting an early diagnosis is key, as early, aggressive treatment is important to halt the joint destruction caused by the disease. Having a good relationship with your rheumatologist is also an important factor in getting diagnosed.
Getting Tested
Rheumatoid arthritis is typically diagnosed through several blood tests, x-rays and ruling out other conditions. Many…
Just Diagnosed
Being recently diagnosed with a chronic illness can be both a relief and overwhelming, as you now have to deal with this condition for the rest of your life. Taking…
Talking to Your Rheumatologist
Being able to talk to your rheumatologist about your treatment plan, pain management and any other concerns you have is important to the patient-doctor relationship. Finding…
Hot Topics
“You have no medical reason to be having any symptoms.” Hi, my name is Holly. I am 28 years old; I've been married for almost 10 years to my high school sweetheart and we have two very active boys. I also have severe rheumatoid…
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