Living with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Defining rheumatoid arthritis

The joints and rheumatoid arthritis

The course and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis: Why so many tests?

Outside the joints: other signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Lifestyle and coping strategies

Coping with pain and fatigue

Coping with emotions

yours and everyone else's

Protecting your joints

Exercise and rheumatoid arthritis

Specific exercises

Medications past, present, future

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cDMARDs)

Biotherapies: the biologics, or bDMARDs

Targeted synthetic DMARDs

Glucocorticoids

Alternative and complementary therapies

Nutrition: Diets, nutrients, and nutritional supplements

Surgery for rheumatoid arthritis

Disability benefits, insurance, and other financial matters

Other concerns

Closing thoughts.