Scroll down Support for living with RA We provide information and support services for those affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), their families, friends, carers and health professionals. Check out the fabulously festive Christmas shop and spread a little joy to the RA and JIA community this Christmas! Please note: Orders will be taken up until 13th December Browse our Christmas shop! What's happening? News, 29 Nov Website Privacy Policy Update We just wanted to make sure our RA and JIA communities are aware that we have updated our Privacy Policy on the 29th November 2024. There are some changes to our legal basis for processing, how we use photos and videos, and organisations we share data with. NRAS is committed to ensuring any data on […] News, 20 Nov Shaping the 10-year NHS Health Plan A blog by Peter Foxton, CEO of National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, regarding the Government’s call to action for shaping the 10-year NHS Health Plan. Lord Darzi, a member of the House of Lords and a consultant surgeon, was asked to lead this independent review of the NHS. This was completed by 12 September 2024 and […] News, 12 Nov New ‘Relationship Matters’ Booklet now available to order! New ‘Relationship Matters’ Booklet now available to order! Our new Relationships Matter booklet covers all aspects of the impact that RA and adult JIA (AJIA) can have on relationships and dating, on both the person diagnosed with RA/AJIA and their partner(s). It was written by a psychotherapeutic counsellor, with support from our editor and NRAS […] Get all the latest news and events straight to your inbox with our regular email. Don't worry, we won’t send you spam! Sign up About Rheumatoid Arthritis All our information on rheumatoid arthritis, what it is, how it’s managed and living with the condition. What is RA? → Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the symptoms such as pain and inflammation are caused by the immune system attacking the joints. Symptoms of RA → RA is a systemic condition, meaning that it can affect the body all over. RA occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, and this can cause pain, swelling and stiffness. RA diagnosis and possible causes → RA is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, scans and examination of the joints. RA medication → RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen. RA healthcare → Read about the people involved in treating RA, best practice models for clinical practice and information on monitoring of RA. Search for resources Try searching our resource hub to find the articles, videos, tools and publications most helpful for you. I am… Employer Health Professional Someone with RASelect topic… About NRAS Apni Jung info for South Asian community Community COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring Diet and Exercise Events Family Planning Healthcare professionals Other Conditions Research Self-management Symptoms and Causes Treatment Work and BenefitsSelect resource type… Article Facebook Live NRAS Live Publication Video Clear All Article A to Z of Ideas A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Article Getting through the festive period when you have RA “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” as the song would have us believe. It can also be an exhausting, expensive and stressful time. Add to this living with an unpredictable health condition, like rheumatoid arthritis and you may struggle ‘to be jolly’ this season. Even if you and your family don’t celebrate Christmas, […] Article Runs Run for Charity Partnership NRAS has partnered with event specialist Run for Charity to allow us to offer guaranteed places in over 700 events throughout the UK. Some of the most popular ones are featured above but click on the links below to search for more events near you! If you would like to contact […] Article Telephone Peer Support Volunteer Description As a Telephone Peer Support Volunteer, your experience of living with RA/JIA is at the heart of your role. You will be asked to support a range of people in diverse communities, while making sure everyone feels welcomed, supported, and valued for who they are. You will use your own experiences to empathise with […] Article Enhancing Everyday Living Enhancing Everyday Living A helpful guide to adapting your bathroom if you live with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Blog by Peter Whittall of Premier Care in Bathing The Importance of Adapting Your Bathroom for Rheumatoid Arthritis Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents many challenges, and one area that can significantly impact daily life is the bathroom. […] Load more ↓ Get Involved There are many ways in which you can get involved to support NRAS, from holding a tea party to becoming a Member. Help by volunteering Join our amazing team of volunteers and help us to raise the profile of RA. Help by joining Memberships tailored for you Don’t live this alone, join us today and be part of our RA Community, together we can help you build a brighter tomorrow. Any overseas supporters will be limited to digital offerings only. View T&Cs for all memberships here Help by fundraising We need your help to continue our work and there’s lots of ways to do so! Help by donating Donate today to change the lives of those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Your Stories You have to be proactive in managing your illness Written by Amanda I was diagnosed at the age of 37 in 2008, after 6 months of misdiagnosis by GPs and finally ending up not being able to get out of bed one morning and being taken to hospital as an emergency. Diagnosis changed my life – physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and socially. I received […] I feel like I’ve gained a lot of my life back We spoke to Léa, who was diagnosed with RA in February 2020. Léa gives us first hand experience of her initial RA journey, the different medicines she has been prescribed to treat her RA and advice on the condition itself. Want more RA stories, Facebook Lives and informative videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. RA can be life-changing, but you can be the one to change your life Becoming a mother, retraining, going self-employed and setting up an NRAS group. How NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh did all this after her RA diagnosis. To mark International Women’s Day (8th March), we celebrate inspirational women everywhere, women such as our very own amazing NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh. “I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of […] I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […] Why Major Jake P Baker stays ‘faithful in adversity’ Major Jake P Baker discusses a life in the army, his diagnosis of RA and how his healthcare team, family and NRAS have helped him through his journey with RA. I retired from the Army on 30th April 2013 after nearly 42 years’ service – man and boy. I enlisted 6 days after my 15th birthday, taking […] A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […] It all started with a pain in my right wrist My RA is still in remission and I am able to enjoy activities like cycling and walking. Last August we had a family holiday in Wales and I managed to climb Snowdon – a real sense of achievement. I do still get some pain and swelling in my joints, especially my wrists and hands, but compared to where I […] Click to close video modal Close Help support others Because of your generous donations, NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by rheumatoid arthritis. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £5£10£20Other £16.68£34.00£83.56Other £50£100£500Other Donate now! NRAS in 2023 0 Helpline enquiries 0 Publications sent out 0 People reached
What's happening? News, 29 Nov Website Privacy Policy Update We just wanted to make sure our RA and JIA communities are aware that we have updated our Privacy Policy on the 29th November 2024. There are some changes to our legal basis for processing, how we use photos and videos, and organisations we share data with. NRAS is committed to ensuring any data on […] News, 20 Nov Shaping the 10-year NHS Health Plan A blog by Peter Foxton, CEO of National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, regarding the Government’s call to action for shaping the 10-year NHS Health Plan. Lord Darzi, a member of the House of Lords and a consultant surgeon, was asked to lead this independent review of the NHS. This was completed by 12 September 2024 and […] News, 12 Nov New ‘Relationship Matters’ Booklet now available to order! New ‘Relationship Matters’ Booklet now available to order! Our new Relationships Matter booklet covers all aspects of the impact that RA and adult JIA (AJIA) can have on relationships and dating, on both the person diagnosed with RA/AJIA and their partner(s). It was written by a psychotherapeutic counsellor, with support from our editor and NRAS […] Get all the latest news and events straight to your inbox with our regular email. Don't worry, we won’t send you spam! Sign up
News, 29 Nov Website Privacy Policy Update We just wanted to make sure our RA and JIA communities are aware that we have updated our Privacy Policy on the 29th November 2024. There are some changes to our legal basis for processing, how we use photos and videos, and organisations we share data with. NRAS is committed to ensuring any data on […]
News, 20 Nov Shaping the 10-year NHS Health Plan A blog by Peter Foxton, CEO of National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, regarding the Government’s call to action for shaping the 10-year NHS Health Plan. Lord Darzi, a member of the House of Lords and a consultant surgeon, was asked to lead this independent review of the NHS. This was completed by 12 September 2024 and […]
News, 12 Nov New ‘Relationship Matters’ Booklet now available to order! New ‘Relationship Matters’ Booklet now available to order! Our new Relationships Matter booklet covers all aspects of the impact that RA and adult JIA (AJIA) can have on relationships and dating, on both the person diagnosed with RA/AJIA and their partner(s). It was written by a psychotherapeutic counsellor, with support from our editor and NRAS […]
About Rheumatoid Arthritis All our information on rheumatoid arthritis, what it is, how it’s managed and living with the condition. What is RA? → Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, meaning that the symptoms such as pain and inflammation are caused by the immune system attacking the joints. Symptoms of RA → RA is a systemic condition, meaning that it can affect the body all over. RA occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, and this can cause pain, swelling and stiffness. RA diagnosis and possible causes → RA is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, scans and examination of the joints. RA medication → RA is a very variable condition so, doctors do not start all patients in exactly the same way on the same drug regimen. RA healthcare → Read about the people involved in treating RA, best practice models for clinical practice and information on monitoring of RA.
Search for resources Try searching our resource hub to find the articles, videos, tools and publications most helpful for you. I am… Employer Health Professional Someone with RASelect topic… About NRAS Apni Jung info for South Asian community Community COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring Diet and Exercise Events Family Planning Healthcare professionals Other Conditions Research Self-management Symptoms and Causes Treatment Work and BenefitsSelect resource type… Article Facebook Live NRAS Live Publication Video Clear All Article A to Z of Ideas A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Article Getting through the festive period when you have RA “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” as the song would have us believe. It can also be an exhausting, expensive and stressful time. Add to this living with an unpredictable health condition, like rheumatoid arthritis and you may struggle ‘to be jolly’ this season. Even if you and your family don’t celebrate Christmas, […] Article Runs Run for Charity Partnership NRAS has partnered with event specialist Run for Charity to allow us to offer guaranteed places in over 700 events throughout the UK. Some of the most popular ones are featured above but click on the links below to search for more events near you! If you would like to contact […] Article Telephone Peer Support Volunteer Description As a Telephone Peer Support Volunteer, your experience of living with RA/JIA is at the heart of your role. You will be asked to support a range of people in diverse communities, while making sure everyone feels welcomed, supported, and valued for who they are. You will use your own experiences to empathise with […] Article Enhancing Everyday Living Enhancing Everyday Living A helpful guide to adapting your bathroom if you live with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Blog by Peter Whittall of Premier Care in Bathing The Importance of Adapting Your Bathroom for Rheumatoid Arthritis Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents many challenges, and one area that can significantly impact daily life is the bathroom. […] Load more ↓
Article Getting through the festive period when you have RA “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” as the song would have us believe. It can also be an exhausting, expensive and stressful time. Add to this living with an unpredictable health condition, like rheumatoid arthritis and you may struggle ‘to be jolly’ this season. Even if you and your family don’t celebrate Christmas, […]
Article Runs Run for Charity Partnership NRAS has partnered with event specialist Run for Charity to allow us to offer guaranteed places in over 700 events throughout the UK. Some of the most popular ones are featured above but click on the links below to search for more events near you! If you would like to contact […]
Article Telephone Peer Support Volunteer Description As a Telephone Peer Support Volunteer, your experience of living with RA/JIA is at the heart of your role. You will be asked to support a range of people in diverse communities, while making sure everyone feels welcomed, supported, and valued for who they are. You will use your own experiences to empathise with […]
Article Enhancing Everyday Living Enhancing Everyday Living A helpful guide to adapting your bathroom if you live with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Blog by Peter Whittall of Premier Care in Bathing The Importance of Adapting Your Bathroom for Rheumatoid Arthritis Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presents many challenges, and one area that can significantly impact daily life is the bathroom. […]
Get Involved There are many ways in which you can get involved to support NRAS, from holding a tea party to becoming a Member. Help by volunteering Join our amazing team of volunteers and help us to raise the profile of RA. Help by joining Memberships tailored for you Don’t live this alone, join us today and be part of our RA Community, together we can help you build a brighter tomorrow. Any overseas supporters will be limited to digital offerings only. View T&Cs for all memberships here Help by fundraising We need your help to continue our work and there’s lots of ways to do so! Help by donating Donate today to change the lives of those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Help by joining Memberships tailored for you Don’t live this alone, join us today and be part of our RA Community, together we can help you build a brighter tomorrow. Any overseas supporters will be limited to digital offerings only. View T&Cs for all memberships here
Your Stories You have to be proactive in managing your illness Written by Amanda I was diagnosed at the age of 37 in 2008, after 6 months of misdiagnosis by GPs and finally ending up not being able to get out of bed one morning and being taken to hospital as an emergency. Diagnosis changed my life – physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and socially. I received […] I feel like I’ve gained a lot of my life back We spoke to Léa, who was diagnosed with RA in February 2020. Léa gives us first hand experience of her initial RA journey, the different medicines she has been prescribed to treat her RA and advice on the condition itself. Want more RA stories, Facebook Lives and informative videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel. RA can be life-changing, but you can be the one to change your life Becoming a mother, retraining, going self-employed and setting up an NRAS group. How NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh did all this after her RA diagnosis. To mark International Women’s Day (8th March), we celebrate inspirational women everywhere, women such as our very own amazing NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh. “I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of […] I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […] Why Major Jake P Baker stays ‘faithful in adversity’ Major Jake P Baker discusses a life in the army, his diagnosis of RA and how his healthcare team, family and NRAS have helped him through his journey with RA. I retired from the Army on 30th April 2013 after nearly 42 years’ service – man and boy. I enlisted 6 days after my 15th birthday, taking […] A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […] It all started with a pain in my right wrist My RA is still in remission and I am able to enjoy activities like cycling and walking. Last August we had a family holiday in Wales and I managed to climb Snowdon – a real sense of achievement. I do still get some pain and swelling in my joints, especially my wrists and hands, but compared to where I […]
You have to be proactive in managing your illness Written by Amanda I was diagnosed at the age of 37 in 2008, after 6 months of misdiagnosis by GPs and finally ending up not being able to get out of bed one morning and being taken to hospital as an emergency. Diagnosis changed my life – physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and socially. I received […]
I feel like I’ve gained a lot of my life back We spoke to Léa, who was diagnosed with RA in February 2020. Léa gives us first hand experience of her initial RA journey, the different medicines she has been prescribed to treat her RA and advice on the condition itself. Want more RA stories, Facebook Lives and informative videos? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
RA can be life-changing, but you can be the one to change your life Becoming a mother, retraining, going self-employed and setting up an NRAS group. How NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh did all this after her RA diagnosis. To mark International Women’s Day (8th March), we celebrate inspirational women everywhere, women such as our very own amazing NRAS volunteer Sharon Branagh. “I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of […]
I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life I am 24 years old, and at aged 19, my world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of RA. Somehow I kept pushing forward, and now I absolutely love my life and everything about it! My name is Eleanor Farr – known as Ellie or Ell to my friends! I am 24 years […]
Why Major Jake P Baker stays ‘faithful in adversity’ Major Jake P Baker discusses a life in the army, his diagnosis of RA and how his healthcare team, family and NRAS have helped him through his journey with RA. I retired from the Army on 30th April 2013 after nearly 42 years’ service – man and boy. I enlisted 6 days after my 15th birthday, taking […]
A daughter’s letter to her father, who lives with RA Dear Dad, you took care of me within your strong arms until I could walk, then embraced me in hugs every day after, keeping our connection forever strong. You took care of me, and you still do, but I want to talk about the time where this case was inversed. To look back on when […]
It all started with a pain in my right wrist My RA is still in remission and I am able to enjoy activities like cycling and walking. Last August we had a family holiday in Wales and I managed to climb Snowdon – a real sense of achievement. I do still get some pain and swelling in my joints, especially my wrists and hands, but compared to where I […]
Help support others Because of your generous donations, NRAS will continue to be there for everyone affected by rheumatoid arthritis. MonthlySinglePay in Funds £5£10£20Other £16.68£34.00£83.56Other £50£100£500Other Donate now!