What is RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis)?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic (whole body) disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally affects the thin, loose vascular connective tissue (synovial tissue) that makes up the membranes surrounding joints.

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What is it like to have RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis)?

Common symptoms How bad it is What people are taking for it
Severity
Severe
Moderate
Mild
None
Gold Sodium Thiomalate, Ibuprofen, Cyclobenzaprine
Prednisone, Tramadol, Cortisone Injection
Gabapentin, Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Tramadol
Amitriptyline, Trazodone, Zolpidem
Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine, Rest, Modafinil
Duloxetine, Citalopram, Fluoxetine
Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam

What do patients take to treat RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) and its symptoms?

Treatments reported by members Perceived effectiveness Overall rating of side effects # of Evaluations
(Metroject, Trexall, Metex, Apo-Methotrexate)
234
(Oxiklorin, Apo-hydroxyquine, Quensyl, Hydroxychlor)
125
(Enbrel, Enbrel SureClick, Enbrel Prefilled Syringe)
62
(Azulfidine EN-tabs, Sulfazine, Salazopyrin)
57
(Humira Pen Psoriasis Starter Package, Humira Pen, Humira Pen Crohn's Disease Starter Package, Humira)
53
(Pulmison, Prednisone Intensol, Encorton, Deltasone)
49
(Arava)
46
(Remicade)
17
13
(Mobicox, Movatec, Teva-Meloxicam, Mobic)
13
(Mabthera, Rituxan)
12
(Roactemra, Actemra)
12
(Dolzam, Zydol SR, Ralivia, Mandolgin)
8
(Cimzia)
6
(Celecox, Celebrex)
5

These charts show data from RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) patients' latest treatment evaluations

Who has RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) at PatientsLikeMe?

<20 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70+
Current Age
Distribution of females vs. males
Gender
90% Females
10% Males
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom # of patients Proportion
0-19 years 475
20-29 years 527
30-39 years 880
40-49 years 855
50-59 years 383
60-69 years 64
70+ years 10
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status # of patients Proportion
Not Diagnosed 151
Diagnosed 3,802

These charts show data from RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) patients who have completed their condition history