Created on: 01/04/08 - Email to friend - Print Page

Frequently Asked Questions About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Taking Control of Rheumatoid Arthritis

What can I do to take control of my rheumatoid arthritis?

Your doctor can prescribe medications, refer you for physical therapy or recommend weight loss or a splint, but the real responsibility for effectively managing RA is yours.

To take control of your RA, it’s important to learn as much about the disease as you can. Join an Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Course. Read reports and look up information on treatment options. If you find something interesting, share it with your doctor.

Work with your doctor to find the most effective medication regimen for you – and stick with it. No medication can help you if you don’t take it.

At the same time, understand that medication alone isn’t enough. Lifestyle factors play an important role in how you will ultimately fare with the disease. Eat healthfully, exercise regularly, lose weight if you need to or maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking or excessive alcohol.

Try to maintain a positive attitude. Maintain ties with friends. Continue activities you enjoy and can still do and find new, creative ways to do activities you can no longer do. Join a support group to meet others who are going through what you are and to learn how they have coped. Attend an Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Exercise Class for fellowship and pain-free exercise, which has been shown to be safe and effective.

Can I exercise with rheumatoid arthritis?

Yes. Not only can you exercise, but you should! While exercise may be the last thing on your mind when you are tired and your joints ache, exercise may be just what you need to ease pain and improve your energy level.

Studies show that regular exercise may help reduce joint pain and stiffness, increase joint mobility and muscle strength and improve psychological well-being. Regular exercise can also help reduce your risk of other health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes, which can accompany RA.

Before beginning an exercise program, it’s important to speak with your doctor or physical therapist to find an appropriate exercise program for you. Ideally, your exercise program would include aerobic exercise to strengthen your heart and lungs, strengthening exercises to make your muscles stronger so they can better support your joints, and stretching exercises to keep your muscles flexible and joints moving freely. One form of exercise almost anyone with arthritis can do is water exercise. Local chapters of the Arthritis Foundation offer a warm-water Aquatic Exercise program. Click here to find a program near you.

If you haven’t been active for a while, start slowly and do whatever you can at first. As you become stronger and your endurance increases, you will be able to exercise longer and more strenuously.

It’s also important to pay attention to your body. If a particular joint is actively inflamed, give that joint a rest, but continue to exercise. And while it’s natural to experience some muscle soreness following a workout, increased joint pain may mean you’re working too hard and need to scale back your exercise routine.

Can certain foods help or hurt my rheumatoid arthritis?

Although there have been many diets purported to cure arthritis, there is little evidence that any particular food or group of foods can help or hurt RA in everyone. However, for a few people, sensitivities to certain foods may cause RA to flare. If you suspect a certain food may be aggravating your arthritis, try stopping it for a while and see if your arthritis improves. If it does, reintroduce the food to see if arthritis worsens again. If it does, avoid the food.

While eliminating a food or two probably won’t hurt you, eliminating many foods or entire groups of food could make it difficult to get the nutrition you need.

In general, the best diet for people with rheumatoid arthritis is one that is low in saturated fats and high in unsaturated fats, especially fish oils. Before beginning any drastic dietary changes, consult your doctor.