TREATMENT GOALS & REMISSION
Your treatment. Your goals.
Working with a rheumatologist is key to coming up with an effective treatment plan that’s right for you.
And it’s important that your treatment plan starts with having specific treatment goals.
In addition to setting goals like relieving symptoms or stopping further joint damage, you can also set goals that impact your everyday life, such as cooking for your family or being able to wear your wedding ring again because of less joint swelling.
Sharing these goals with your rheumatologist can help keep you on track to reach them.
RA fluctuates over time
People living with RA are no stranger to change. While the exact causes are not
fully understood, inflammation causing RA in the body may ebb and flow over
time. This is commonly known as disease activity.
Since RA is different for everyone, disease activity in the body can fluctuate with or
without medication. These changes can directly impact the level of
symptoms you experience.
What different levels of disease activity may mean
High disease activity
Inflammation is high; symptoms are debilitating
Moderate disease activity
Inflammation and symptoms are present and burdensome
Low disease activity
Inflammation and symptoms are reduced, but noticeable
Remission
Little to no inflammation or symptoms are present; RA is still present
While attaining remission doesn’t mean you no longer have RA, it does mean that reducing inflammation by appropriately managing your RA can help you achieve and maintain little to no symptoms. A rheumatologist can measure if you have achieved remission using a variety of tools and tests.
FACT:
Treating RA sooner can increase the likelihood of achieving remission
With effective medicine, remission can be possible
While there is currently no cure, maintaining an effective treatment plan can help you achieve remission. During remission, RA symptoms and the inflammation that can cause permanent joint damage can be greatly reduced; some people even experience minimal or no signs or symptoms of active inflammation.
Remission is an important goal.
When RA is treated soon after diagnosis, it can help increase the chances of reaching remission. But even for those who’ve been living with RA for longer, it’s important to know that your treatment goals should still include helping to relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation, and prevent further joint damage.
Talking to a rheumatologist about treatment goals, and remission, can be the first step.
Looking for a rheumatologist?
Find one here.