Women are three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis compared to men. Although it’s more common between the ages of 25 and 50, it can develop at any age.
It’s important to get treatment for rheumatoid arthritis as early as possible because delayed treatment can result in permanent joint deformity.
In the early stages, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions.
Common symptoms to look out for include:
The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is usually slow and begins in the hands and feet but it may also develop in other parts of the body including the wrists, elbows, hips, knees and ankles. You’ll often notice the same changes in your joints on both sides of the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis can, in some people, develop very quickly. Most sufferers tend to experience symptoms in a come and go fashion. These recurring episodes (or flare-ups) may appear for no apparent reason or there may be some obvious trigger such as injury or stress.
For a small number of people, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms might affect them for a year or two only to disappear. Rheumatoid arthritis is a very unpredictable disease and everyone’s experience of it will be different.
Because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks your entire body, you may also experience:
In some 25% of cases, small knobbly but firm lumps (rheumatoid nodules) appear around the joints. These won’t normally require treatment. You may also become anaemic (lack of iron) and this can add to your feeling of unwellness and general exhaustion.
The constant inflammation and swelling can cause permanent damage to the cartilage, tendons, ligaments and even bones. This may result in permanent and painful deformity for about 1 out of 6 sufferers. That’s why it’s really important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and the disease will usually get worse over time. Rheumatoid arthritis may also shorten your lifespan by as much as 10 to 15 years.
Researchers believe that this is because rheumatoid arthritis patients have a greater risk of a number of diseases including:
Early diagnosis and treatment with effective drugs can not only reduce your symptoms but may also help you live a longer, healthier life.
Sadly, New Zealand did not fund any modern medicines for the treatment of any form of arthritis in the years 2011 to 2020. In that same period, Australia funded four modern medicines for arthritis.
Many private medical insurance policies will cover you for the cost of expensive drugs from overseas that are either not available or not funded in New Zealand. Schedule a 5-minute callback with a Policywise adviser and we can show you how you can afford better healthcare.
We can help you compare some of the best health insurance policies available and answer all your questions. And you won’t have to pay us anything.
Normally, the immune system identifies and fights harmful invaders such as bacteria and other infections. With rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system starts attacking the healthy cells in the joints. We don’t really know why this happens.
There are some risk factors that increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. These include:
If you experience any of the common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, then see your doctor. Early diagnosis can help manage the symptoms more effectively and prevent your joints from suffering significant damage.
There isn’t any single test that will definitely confirm that you have rheumatoid arthritis but your doctor will begin by taking a detailed history of your symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis can appear very similar to other joint diseases such as fibromyalgia or gout so your doctor will also carry out a number of tests including:
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis so doctors will try to manage and reduce your levels of pain and inflammation while maximising your joint health and function.
Exercise is vital to maintain joint health, strength and mobility. And a physiotherapist will be able to suggest an exercise plan that includes targeted exercises for your specific needs. You’ll also need to make sure you don’t overdo the exercise; rest is equally important especially when symptoms flare up.
Try to get a good balance of exercises that do the following:
You’ll want to avoid stress, over-exertion, fatigue and those other triggers that can make your symptoms worse. Try some of the following:
There are some really important lifestyle factors that you need to know about. Making changes in these areas will help you manage your rheumatoid arthritis more successfully.
Smoking: smoking not only increases your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by 40% but it also can make the disease outcome worse in other ways including:
Being overweight: studies show that obesity makes rheumatoid arthritis symptoms significantly worse and may also make some medications less effective. Overweight people report greater pain and disability, and a poorer quality of life in general.
Being overweight may also place more strain on inflamed joints.
Healthy diet: a balanced, healthy diet will give you more energy and promote better overall health and will also support healthy joint function. You’ll probably need to experiment a little here as some foods may make your symptoms worse.
Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oils, can reduce inflammation and support better joint health.
Although we do not have any drugs that will cure rheumatoid arthritis, doctors may prescribe a number of medicines that will help reduce inflammation and pain. Some drugs work on slowing down the disease itself. Common medicines used include:
There is restricted Pharmac funding for TNF inhibitors but your specialist rheumatologist must apply on your behalf. Pharmac is the government agency that chooses which drugs to fund for New Zealanders. Pharmac’s lack of funding and its incredibly slow decision-making processes mean many Kiwis may miss out on any exciting new drugs that become available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Many health insurance policies will pay for you to access non-Pharmac funded drugs. This means you can get the very best treatment available. Schedule a 5-minute callback with one of the Policywise experts and we can help you compare the best health insurance policies on the market today.
Sometimes, when pain has become severe and there is significant joint deformity, doctors might recommend surgery. Surgery might be for joint replacement (especially hip or knee) or it might be to repair damaged tendons or nerves.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis is about maintaining your health and wellbeing while reducing your symptoms. You can help make your day-to-day disease management easier by:
Some rheumatoid arthritis medications can have dangerous side effects so if there is anything you don’t understand or you notice anything unusual, let your doctor know.
You may not have a serious disease and it may not even run in your family but that’s no guarantee it won’t happen to you or someone you love. Remember, rheumatoid arthritis isn’t restricted by family genetics.
You need to think about how health insurance can cover you for that possibility. And not all health insurance plans are the same. Some plans only pay for a tiny fraction of your cancer treatment expenses.
Don’t let this happen to you. Ask your Policywise insurance adviser about policies that include cancer cover. Make sure to consider insurance options that can help cover your daily expenses if a permanent disability like severe rheumatoid arthritis forces you to stop working.
Some health insurance policies also include additional consultations with specialists who can offer second opinions and additional advice about your treatment plans. That’s priceless when dealing with all the questions that come up after your meeting with the specialist.
We provide clear, easy-to-understand plan comparisons from different insurers so you can choose the plan with the best cover. Schedule a 5-minute callback with a Policywise expert. Our service is free to you.