Some patients when told that they have the disease may feel depressed, anxious or frustrated. Misconceptions about the disease and the desire for a rapid cure may lead the patient to seek unproven therapy, resulting in delay in appropriate treatment and dire consequences. This booklet is written for people who have rheumatoid arthritis, and their family. It aims to explain some of the facts about rheumatoid arthritis and help you understand the disease so that you can take a positive role in keeping it under control. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease characterised by pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints.
Inflammation is the body's reaction to injury.
Most inflammatory reactions are short-lasting responses to injury but in rheumatoid arthritis the inflammation is persistent and abnormal. Fluid may accumulate in the joint as a result of the inflammation and this contributes to the joint swelling. If the inflammation continues uncontrolled for a long time, it may cause damage to the joints or tendons. This inflammation distinguishes rheumatoid arthritis from other more common forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis. Apart from the joints, the disease can also affect other parts of the body like the eyes, lungs, nervous system and the skin.