REMISSION AND YOUR RHEUMATOLOGIST
Everyone with RA should have a rheumatologist who suggests that you aim for remission as a goal of treatment. Remission means that RA has become inactive. Remission is a game-changer because when RA is inactive, joint destruction is prevented. Since there is no cure for RA, remission is the next best thing.
Although many interventions can improve symptoms and long term function, medications are the key to RA remission. RA behaves different in each affected individual, and can be difficult to control. Therefore, it may take time and several adjustments. About 40 percent of people will achieve remission. Meanwhile, most people will be able to decrease RA activity to some extent.
Achieving remission is hard to predict but may depend on several variables, such as:
- Age that you were diagnosed
- How much inflammation you have
- How much damage the RA has caused already
- How your blood tests look.
You and your doctor will be able to tell you’re in remission when:
Your symptoms of joint pain, swelling, and stiffness resolve.
You are physically active with minimal symptoms or limitations
Your lab tests for inflammation become normal
The rheumatologist will make the final determination based on expertise and established medical criteria.
If you achieve remission, then you will still need to be medically monitored because relapses may occur for various reasons. If you have active RA despite treatment, discuss with your doctor what options you have to combine medications or add other interventions such as lifestyle changes.
Fortunately, these days getting the diagnosis of RA is not the death sentence for your joints that it used to be. With early diagnosis and modern treatment options, people with RA are living with much better quality of life, with less pain, more function, and decreased long-term joint damage.
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