Introduction

Living with rheumatoid arthritis can mean living with chronic pain, fatigue, and joint stiffness. Thousands of people have benefited from developing and following plans to help them manage their symptoms. You and your health professional can develop a medical treatment plan that may include medication and other therapies. Early medical treatment can help you avoid disabling joint changes and chronic pain.

Besides following your medical treatment plan, there are several steps you can take to maintain your normal life and activities. This is often called self-management. The first steps include:

• Learning as much as you can about rheumatoid arthritis.
• Learning ways to reduce joint pain, fatigue, and stiffness.
• Taking an active role in managing your rheumatoid arthritis.

 What does it mean to take an active role in the management of rheumatoid arthritis?

 Why is it important to take an active role in developing a management plan for rheumatoid arthritis?

 How do I manage my rheumatoid arthritis?

 Where to go from here

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