Rheumatoid Arthritis
All about rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including symptoms, traditional and complementary treatments, management, lifestyle tips like recipes for inflammation, and inspirational stories of living with RA.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Topics
Latest
HealthCentral Tries It: Pilates With Rheumatoid Arthritis
When you combine the balancing aspect of yoga (but even more gentle) with the core focus of Pilates — and you throw in the bonus of relaxation — you have yourself a pretty beneficial workout for RA.
To Live Your Best Life With RA, Practice Gratitude
It's easy to get caught up in the pain and fear of the unknown when you're living with rheumatoid arthritis. Practicing gratitude can improve your mental game by allowing you to see a world outside of RA. Here's how to do it!
Why RA Can Cause Hearing Loss and How Best to Handle It
Studies show people with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to have hearing loss. If you think you might be affected by this symptom, here are tips for how to seek diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle changes to optimize your hearing.
What It’s Like to Live With RA — In Germany
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with RA in another country? Do they have better treatments? And what about health insurance? We talk to an artist who lives in Germany about whether life with RA is better — or worse — across the world.
There's an App for That — Including Your RA
Life with rheumatoid arthritis is all over the map. One day, your knees are screaming in pain, the next, it’s your hands and shoulders. Here are some tools to track your symptoms so you can report them to your doctor.
How to Live When You’re in RA Limbo
If you’re lucky enough to reach a point when your RA meds are working wonderfully, and you’re not seeing any side effects of the chronic condition, you can either live with arms wide open, or in constant fear of its return. Your choice.
Go Ahead, Get the Massage — You Deserve it, and It’ll Help Your RA
Contrary to popular belief and concerns, massage isn’t likely going to make your RA pain worse — it’s actually known to decrease pain, as well as improve grip strength, range of motion, and general joint function. Plus, there’s that whole stress-relief and relaxation benefit.
A Tropical, RA-Friendly Breakfast in a Bowl
Got a handful of frozen berries and some spinach that’s about to go bad? Then you’ve got breakfast! Try this rheumatoid-arthritis friendly, anti-inflammatory breakfast bowl that’s packed with protein and fresh produce.
Painsomnia: No, I Can’t 'Just Get More Sleep' — I'm Hurting!
Life with a chronic illness comes with pain. If your pain makes it difficult to sleep at night, you're not alone. There’s a name for it: 'painsomnia.'
Manage Your Next RA Flare With These 10 Tips
Did you know that staying in bed for an RA flare isn’t always best? Experts recommend alternating periods of rest with movement to keep joints from getting stiff. These 10 tips can help you during your next RA flare.
Featured Collections
Living Well with RA
When your body's in pain, how do you move forward? Find expert advice and use the collective wisdom of fellow RA patients and caregivers to live with greater ease at home, work, and beyond.
Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Can you guess which world record this mom with RA broke? Find even more stories of men and women staying active with rheumatoid arthritis, from the dance studio to the shores of the Great Lakes.
Meet the Experts
Lene Andersen, MSW
Patient ExpertLene Andersen is an author, health and disability advocate, and photographer. She lives with rheumatoid arthritis.
Cathy Kramer
Patient ExpertCathy Kramer shares her life experiences as they relate to rheumatoid arthritis.
Emil DeAndreis
Patient ExpertEmil DeAndreis is an English professor and baseball coach who chronicles his journey of losing a professional baseball career to RA.
Health News
Genetics Combine with Environmental Factors in RA
Previous studies have shown that people with a particular version of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene are at increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and that environmental factors, such as cigarette smoking and air pollution, ca...
Study Links RA to Bacteria in Milk and Beef
Bacteria commonly found in milk and beef, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) may trigger rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in people with a genetic predisposition to the disease, according to a study from the University of Central Florida ...
The Menopause Effect on Rheumatoid Arthritis
Post-menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience faster physical decline than pre-menopausal women with the disease, according to a study involving more than 8,000 women and published in Rheumatology. Symptoms of RA, including painful ...