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(08) 6110 0570admin@pdchealthhub.com.auRheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the lining of your joints, so the problem is inflammation rather than wear and tear. A rheumatologist runs the medicine side.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long term autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. It can also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart or kidneys.1 It usually starts in the smaller joints of the hands and feet, and it is usually symmetrical, affecting the same joints on both sides. Morning stiffness can last more than an hour.1 An estimated 514,000 people in Australia are living with rheumatoid arthritis, and it is slightly more common in women.2 This is inflammation, not wear and tear, which is what separates it from osteoarthritis.
Because the inflammation can damage joints, treatment needs to start early. If your GP suspects rheumatoid arthritis they refer you to a rheumatologist, who runs the medicine side: disease modifying antirheumatic medicines, and corticosteroids during a flare.1 PDC clinicians do not diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and do not prescribe for it. What we do is the movement and nutrition work alongside that. An exercise physiologist or physiotherapist builds a program for when the condition is settled, and adjusts it when a flare arrives.3 An Accredited Practising Dietitian can help with everyday eating patterns, which Australian guidance covers as part of managing rheumatoid arthritis.1
When rheumatoid arthritis is settled, exercise is part of management and supports function, weight and mental health.1,3 During a flare the approach changes. Australian advice is that you may need more rest and less exercise, and not to exercise a joint vigorously while it is red, hot, swollen or painful.3 If you are otherwise well you can keep gentle movement going for the rest of your body. Many rheumatoid arthritis medicines suppress the immune system, so tell your doctor straight away about any infection or persistent fever, and treat a suddenly hot, swollen, very painful joint as an emergency.4,5
PHOTO NEEDED · Add a Hero Image to this condition in the CMS: a PDC clinician with a client, natural light, no identifiable health information on screen
Symptoms are a guide, not a diagnosis. Your GP confirms the diagnosis; our team helps you manage it day to day.
The teams and services that most often support people with this condition. They work from one shared plan, and one GP referral reaches all of them.
This page follows Australian sources: Healthdirect Australia and the AIHW for the condition itself, Arthritis Australia for physical activity and exercise with arthritis, including during a flare, and the Australian Rheumatology Association's patient medicine information for the infection risk that comes with immune suppressing medicines.
No. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints, so the problem is inflammation. Osteoarthritis is a change across the whole joint structure over time. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects small joints on both sides of the body, can cause morning stiffness lasting more than an hour, and is managed by a rheumatologist.
Not the affected joints in the usual way. Arthritis Australia advises more rest and less exercise during a flare, and says not to exercise a joint vigorously while it is red, hot, swollen or painful. If you feel otherwise well you can keep gentle movement going for the rest of your body. Agree your own flare plan with your rheumatologist or physiotherapist in advance.
Your rheumatologist leads the medicine side, with your GP. PDC clinicians do not diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and do not prescribe medicines. We work on exercise, movement and nutrition alongside your specialist's plan, and our pharmacists can help you understand medicines you have already been prescribed. We write back to your referrer so everyone is working from the same information.
Some can. Because medicines such as methotrexate can depress the immune system, there is an increased risk of developing some infections, and the Australian Rheumatology Association advises telling your doctor straight away if you have an infection or persistent fever. Do not stop or change a dose on your own. That decision sits with your rheumatologist or GP.
Soon. If rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, your doctor refers you to a rheumatologist, and treatment with disease modifying medicines is usually recommended early to relieve symptoms and reduce further joint damage. See your doctor as soon as possible if you notice the symptoms. Exercise, physiotherapy and nutrition work can begin alongside once the diagnosis is clear.
Tell us what is going on and we will point you to the right discipline, or to more than one. Most people start with a single appointment and leave with a plan the rest of the team can see.
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