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Rethink your RA treatment

Is your current RA treatment working?

You know how painful rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be. Finding the right medication may be the key to feeling better. Some people respond well to a medication they've been prescribed and notice dramatic improvements in their symptoms. Unfortunately, for some other people, it's possible that a medication that used to work well might become less effective as time goes on. They may even discover it doesn't really work at all.

Take a minute to think about how much relief you're getting from your current medication, and ask yourself these questions:

How close do you feel to the way you did before you had RA?
Are you able to do things again that you used to be able to do before you had RA?
Can you carry your groceries in from the car?
Are you able to climb stairs without any trouble?
How do you feel compared to when you first started taking medication?

If you're not happy with the answers to any of these questions, or if you're just not sure, it may be time to discuss other treatment options with your doctor. New steps forward are being made in RA medications all the time. You may want to learn more about them.

Below are some tools that can help you assess your symptoms.

R.A.P. Sheet

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Profile Sheet, or R.A.P. Sheet, is an interactive tool that can help you talk to your doctor about your symptoms and how well your current treatment is working.

Symptom tracker

This diary will help you track your symptoms over time. RA can progress very slowly, so it might be helpful to have a record of how you were feeling. This way, you and your doctor can get a better understanding of how you're managing your condition.

Next — Talking to your doctor