The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place London NW8 9LE
Rheumatoid arthritis
A long-term condition that can be managed with the right treatments to reduce discomfort and minimise flare-ups
About
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in multiple joints in your body. The symptoms usually affect your hands, feet and wrists. It is important that rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed early so that effective treatment can be given as soon as possible.
Need to know
Symptoms may include:
- painful and swollen joints
- stiffness
- tiredness
Your consultant will speak to you about your symptoms, discuss your medical history and perform a physical examination of your affected joints. To confirm a diagnosis they may carry out blood tests or take an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan of the affected joints.
Treatment options include:
- over-the-counter painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- steroids
- biologics, a new family of drugs specifically targeting molecules important in inflammation
- in severe cases, surgery may be recommended; procedures include hip, knee and ankle replacements
Our Rheumatoid arthritis locations
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.