A prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis maps the likely future course of the disease
A prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis is an estimation on how the course of your disease will progress with time. It’s a very individual assessment, and, like any attempt to predict the future, will not be 100% accurate. However it is a useful tool which will help you and your rheumatologist make decisions about your treatment.
You’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, so what happens now? Will you still be able to live your current lifestyle or will you gradually become more disabled? These and many more questions may be running around in your mind. An accurate rheumatoid arthritis prognosis can set your mind at rest and help you develop a plan for managing the disease.
A prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis is built on may factors including your age and sex, current situation - remission or flare-up, whether you have a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis as opposed to a milder form and how much the disease has already progressed. If rheumatoid arthritis is detected early and managed well from the outset, your prognosis will likely be better than if joint and tissue damage has already started. Unfortunately this can take as little as three to four months, hence the need for fast diagnosis.
To get an accurate prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis your rheumatologist will ask you many questions. These will include questions about your general health, what activities you perform on a daily basis and which are being affected, your current pain level, your ability to exercise, any other medical conditions you may have and your current symptoms. This knowledge will then be used as a benchmark to measure any future improvement or deterioration in your condition.
To monitor your progress, you can download the Health Assessment Questionnaire from Stanford University which will allow you to check your situation to see whether there is improvement or not. This would also be useful to take to your doctor to allow him to better manage your treatment.
What factors may lead to a poor prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis?
The most important factors is the level of joint deterioration that has already occurred. If you were not diagnosed with the disease with the first few months, chances are this joint damage will already have started. Aggressive treatments with medications to stop the progression of rheumatoid arthritis may be recommended.
Another factor is the levels of serum markers such as C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies in the blood. If the RF antibody is present, that means there is a chance that the disease will be more severe. The same situation applies for the anti-CCP antibody. A high level of C-reactive protein means a high level of inflammation in the body.
If your rheumatoid arthritis prognosis is not too bright, remember that nothing is “set in cement” and there are may thing you can do to improve your health apart from taking medications and using artificial aids to get through the day. Yes it’s true that rheumatoid arthritis is a serious condition, but always remember that research is progressing rapidly and try keep a positive mindset at this time. Your prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis need not be a life sentence!
Very helpful cheers, I presume your trusty followers might probably want far more reviews along these lines carry on the excellent work.