Next Steps

Follow-up

Regardless of whether a specialist or your primary-care provider is treating you for rheumatoid arthritis, he or she should see you regularly to monitor your condition, your response to treatment, and side effects and other problems related to your rheumatoid arthritis or your treatment. The best way to monitor your condition is to see if you have any disability (loss of function) and, if so, how much.

The frequency of these visits depends on the activity of your rheumatoid arthritis. If your treatment is working well and your condition is stable, the visits can be less frequent than if your rheumatoid arthritis is getting worse, you are developing complications, or you are having severe side effects of treatment. Each person's situation must be decided individually.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis - Early Symptoms

The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

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