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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Discovery :
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Original symptoms and visiting a GP
Referral to a rheumatologist, tests & diagnosis
Impact of the diagnosis
Ideas about causes
Impact of diagnosis on family & others
Tests and treatments :
Choosing treatments & taking part in trials
Painkillers
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Steroid tablets, injections & intravenous pulses
Biologic treatments: anti-TNF and B-cell therapy
Long term use of drugs
Regular monitoring and other diagnostic tests
Physiotherapy & hydrotherapy
Occupational therapy
Other hospital specialists
Surgery - introduction
Surgery - upper limb and neck
Surgery - lower limb
Outpatient clinics
Complementary and alternative approaches
Living with rheumatoid arthritis :
Diet & food supplements
Exercise
Personal life and changes to the home
Social life & relationships
Mobility, driving & transport
Work
Financial implications & financial support
Sources of support
Body image
Attitude to RA & facing the future
Self-management
Ongoing symptoms- flares, stiffness & sleep disturbance
Ongoing symptoms- pain, fatigue, depression, weight change
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Parenting & childcare
Messages to others with RA
Messages to health care professionals
Finding information about RA
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Bones & joints
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Disease duration 26 years plus
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Interview 27
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Family, friends and neighbours offered to help but sometimes she wanted to be independent and refused help.
RA diagnosed 1975 after stiff fingers. Elbow replacement '91 and 2 toe operations. Currently Methotrexate 10mg/week & folic acid 6/7 days, daily Cyclosporin 150mg, Diclofenac 100mg suppository, co-codamol as required and Losarlyn 100mg (blood pressure).
Bones & joints
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Disease duration 21-25 years
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Interview 36
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Depending for help on her parents was hard, especially having to fit into their timetable.
Diagnosed 1979 as a young child. Currently on Methotrexate 10mg & folic acid, tramadol 100mg 2/day, solpadol 7/day. 2 hips and 2 knees replaced under spinal anaesthetic in succession over 2 years. Broken femur complication of last knee operation.
Bones & joints
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Disease duration 0-5 years
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Interview 48
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Has learnt over the years when to help his partner and when to accept she wants to do things independently.
Partner was diagnosed with RA at 25 has had the disease 5 years.
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