RA healthcare

In this section, you will find articles on the people involved in treating RA, the ‘standards of care’ best practice models for clinical practice and information on the monitoring and management of RA from your healthcare team. 

RA is a condition for which there is currently no cure. However, it can be managed successfully to not only control symptoms but also slow its progression, to improve both short and long-term quality of life. In this section of the website, you will find information on the healthcare professionals who can help, what best practice looks like and how your healthcare team help with the treatment and monitoring of your RA. It also gives detailed information on specific areas of healthcare outside of rheumatology, such as surgery, foot health and oral health, which you may or may not need support with depending on the severity of your RA and the areas of the body it affects.  

01. Your healthcare team

RA is managed not just by the rheumatology team, but by a wider team of experts sometimes referred to as the ‘multi-disciplinary team’. Understanding who can help you and what these different roles are will help you get the best management of your RA.  

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02. RA foot health

RA most commonly affects the smaller joints in the hands and feet and something like 90% of people with RA experience pain and problems with their feet, yet all too often the feet can get overlooked by patients and healthcare professionals.  

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03. Oral health and RA

Patients with RA can experience problems with their mouths. Some are directly related to RA such as gum disease, jaw problems and dry mouth and some indirectly e.g. as a result of RA medication or difficulty cleaning teeth. 

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04. RA surgery

The decision to have surgery is understandably a very difficult one to make. All types of surgery carry risks to the individual and will require a recovery time. However, there can also be a lot of benefits to surgery, such as reducing pain and improving mobility. 

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05. Guidelines on the management of RA

There are useful guidelines in place for various aspects of rheumatoid arthritis from different healthcare bodies. These guidelines offer evidence-based ‘best practice’ models. 

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06. Monitoring RA

RA is a complex condition to diagnose, treat and manage and requires a continual level of ongoing monitoring, including blood tests, imaging techniques such as x-ray and ultrasound and tracking potential side effects to medication.  

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NRAS in 2023

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