Managing rheumatoid arthritis

Written by Teachers Health Staff Writer | Health Content

11 March 2025

While you’ve likely heard of the term ‘arthritis’, you may be less familiar with the different types. In this article we learn about rheumatoid arthritis and how it affects your joints, plus tips for managing the condition to help you lead a healthy and active life.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in your joints. Your immune system is designed to identify and attack things like bacteria and viruses to keep you healthy, but with rheumatoid arthritis your immune system attacks its own healthy tissue in and around your joints. In a healthy joint, the tissue that lines it is very thin and produces fluid that lubricates and nourishes the tissue, but with rheumatoid arthritis the immune system attacks this lining, so it becomes thick and inflamed.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the smaller joints in your hands, knees and feet, but it can also target larger joints like your hips and knees. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, like periods of pain and fatigue, can have an impact on your ability to work, enjoy hobbies, and socialise.

What are the symptoms to look for?

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis vary from person to person and may change from day to day, but common ones include:

swelling, pain and heat in the joints (usually starting in the smaller joints in your hands or feet)
stiffness in your joints that lasts for more than an hour, especially in the morning
ongoing mental and physical tiredness
the same joints on both sides of the body being affected[1,2].

Less common symptoms can include weight loss, inflammation of other parts of your body (like your lungs or eyes), or rheumatoid nodules, which are fleshy lumps below your elbows or on your hands and feet[3].

Are there particular risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis?

It’s not known what causes the immune system to malfunction and attack the joints in rheumatoid arthritis, but it appears that genes can play a role[4,5,6] with it being more common in people who have a family history of the condition[7]. It’s also more common in people who smoke7 and other factors include hormones, infection, emotional distress or environmental triggers (like pollutants)[8,9].

Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age but usually appears between the ages of 30 and 60, and it affects more women than men[10,11]. In Australia most people who have rheumatoid arthritis are over the age of 65[12].

When should I see my doctor?

If you’ve got joint pain and inflammation, it’s important to see your GP so they can assess your symptoms and examine your joints. They’ll also use blood tests which can detect signs of inflammation in the joints as well as certain proteins (antibodies) which are made by the body’s immune system to help confirm the diagnosis. X-rays can show the extent of joint damage but might not show up in the early stages of the disease. If your GP suspects rheumatoid arthritis then they’ll usually refer you to a rheumatologist (a doctor who specialises in arthritis).

What are the treatment options?

There’s currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but early diagnosis and management can help to reduce the chances of joint damage and improve your quality of life by controlling the inflammation and helping you to manage pain. Medications are generally used to treat it, but treatment can also come in the form of physio or joint replacement surgery when joint deterioration and pain are severe.

Regular monitoring in partnership with your GP or specialist is important to check that your treatment is working properly and to minimise any side effects of the treatment. And, because there’s a link between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis[13] [link to article], talk to your doctor about whether you need a bone density check.

You should also see your GP or rheumatologist if you experience:

signs of infections (including a fever, redness or painful skin or wounds)
breathing difficulties and/or a dry cough
a flare-up (an increase in joint pain and swelling)[14].

How can I maintain my quality of life?

There are lots of things you can do to help manage rheumatoid arthritis and its symptoms so you can lead a healthy and active life, including:

Appropriate exercises to help you maintain muscle strength and joint flexibility (like exercising in warm water, cycling and walking). Talk to a physio or accredited exercise physiologist about what exercises are right for you.
Pain relief techniques – chat to a physio about what techniques can help, plus advice on appropriate physical activity.
Managing activities at home and work – talk to an Occupational Therapist (OT) about how you can reduce strain and pain on your affected joints to help manage fatigue, plus advice on aids and equipment that can support you.
Relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga (try our Mindful Heart Series) might be useful in helping you to manage pain and anxiety and improve your sleep.
Rest! Try to optimise your sleep and rest when you need to. This will help you to manage fatigue, particularly when your joints are swollen.
Eating well – while there’s no particular diet recommended for rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet to maintain your general health and stop weight gain. Food containing omega-3 fats (like sardines, salmon, linseeds and canola oil) can help to reduce inflammation.
Complementary therapies like massage or acupuncture may be useful but always talk to your doctor first[15,16].

Don’t forget to check your Extras cover for benefits towards things like physio, OT, and support from an exercise physiologist or dietitian. The Healthy Lifestyle benefit can also help with the cost of some healthy eating, exercise and lifestyle programs and more.

Sources:
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bone Health - Healthy Bones Australia
Chronic musculoskeletal conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)
Rheumatoid arthritis - Better Health Channel
Rheumatoid Arthritis — Symptoms & Treatment | MSK Australia
Managing rheumatoid arthritis - NPS MedicineWise
Arthritis Australia

By Teachers Health Staff Writer

Health Content