Primary Care

Self-Care Tips | Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in your joints. It is a progressive illness that can cause serious joint damage and disability. Your hands and feet are most frequently affected.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

• Chronic joint pain
• Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes
• Difficulty moving joints
• Joint tenderness
• Joint swelling
• "Hot feeling" in the joints
• Nodules or lumps under skin
• Having the same joint symptom on both sides of your body (i.e. both hands hurt)
• Fatigue 

What you can do

• Apply a cold pack
• Do flexibility or water exercises
• Take a break and stretch
• Lose excess weight
• Use a splint to support the joint and allow it to rest
• Stop smoking
• Walk

When to call your primary care provider

• Sudden, unexplained joint swelling and pain
• Joint pain accompanied by a rash or fever
• Severe pain that prevents you from using the joint

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