Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation
People diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and
their friends and family often need to seek out information and
support in dealing with this chronic and as yet incurable disease.
While there is no single foundation for just rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), the National Arthritis Foundation is a resource for this
condition and more than 100 other related rheumatic and arthritic
illnesses.
This marks the 60th year that the Arthritis
Foundation has been available to assist those concerned with some
form of arthritis. Originally, a group of physicians and laypeople
in 1948 banded together to try to find a cure for this scourge and
an end to its disability producing effects. At first it was called
the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation. In the years since, the
Arthritis Foundation has become both a sponsor of critical research
into arthritic diseases and a source of educational material and
references as well as a link to support groups for patients and
families.
The Arthritis Foundation website has sections
for the specific illnesses called disease centers. Each of these
contains a variety of information about causes, symptoms, tests,
treatments and other factors in each disease such as that for RA.
Reading the RA disease center pages is a crash course in
understanding thoroughly what RA is and what it can do to the body.
A person who even thinks they might have RA can
find a full description of early symptoms which include fatigue,
fevers, symmetrical swollen joints, and swelling, redness and pain
or tenderness in the joints. The site also covers the systemic
effects of RA and complications such as lung, heart, gastric and
blood vessel involvement. Many people are surprised to learn how
many parts of the body can be struck by the effects of RA.
The Arthritis Foundation (AF) website also
describes in great detail current treatments available for RA. These
include the several classes of medications used to halt the progress
of the illness and to manage its effects. These include analgesics
or pain killers, anti-inflammatory medications, steroids, disease
modifying drugs and biologic response modifying drugs. The site also
mentions the role of rest, exercise, and physical therapy in RA and
also has sections on holistic care and alternative and complementary
therapies.
There is a drug information section that
explains how each medication works and what complications or side
effects can occur with its use. Contraindications are also
discussed, such as medications not safe for use in pregnancy.
Another section of the AF website deals with
current research being done in both treatments and better means of
diagnosis. Early diagnosis is important since much damage can be
prevented when effective treatment begins early in the illness. The
foundation sponsors a great deal of groundbreaking investigations
into the causes of RA and potential treatments and even cures. Some
of the work is aimed at identifying who is at risk and who may
require close monitoring.
In addition, the foundation website has links
to local chapters where patients and significant others may meet
with peers for support and work at fundraising for the cause of RA.
People who have strong support systems are known to do better in
dealing with illness, so this support plays an important role for
the RA patient.
Even without a separate foundation just for
rheumatoid arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation has extensive
information and help for RA affected people. It should be the first
place to check out after a diagnosis of RA is made or even before to
be aware of symptoms.
Resources
National Arthritis Foundation RA pages:
www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=31
Mayo Foundation for Research about RA:
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rheumatoidarthritis.html
About.com information about the Arthritis
Foundation:
arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/
More about the Mayo Foundation and RA research:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00020