in the past, you were pretty much guaranteed to end up with joint deformities that could affect your ability level. However, in the past 10 years, there've been massive advances in treatment with the introduction of the biologic drugs (Enbrel, Humira, Simponi, etc.). They work so well that doctors don't know what kind of prognosis to make anymore, because no one has taken them long enough to find out how far you can go. There are still people whose RA is resistant to medication, but this is fairly rare. It can take a while for people to find a medication that works for them with minimal side effects, but once they do, there's a good chance that they can live a relatively normal life.

Have you been diagnosed with RA? It can be a scary thing to hear that you have a chronic illness - the first year especially can be difficult because you have to learn to adjust, you have to grieve the loss of your healthy self, you have to find a medication that works for you and have to figure out who you are now. I'd recommend you check out our area about the basics of RA for more information about the disease, as well as our area for the newly diagnosed for posts on different aspects of living well with RA (yes, by the way, it is very possible to live well with this disease). As well, I would recommend you pick up a book called The First Year with Rheumatoid Arthritis - it's 10 years old and therefore written before the introduction of Biologics, but it is a fantastic resource and learning tool that will help you get through to a place where you feel more in control.

Please do not hesitate to ask more questions, share your story in a SharePost or send me a message.