What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic (whole body) disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally affects the thin, loose vascular connective tissue (synovial tissue) that makes up the membranes surrounding joints.
How do members experience rheumatoid arthritis?
Top 5 symptoms reported by people with rheumatoid arthritis*
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Joint pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Stiffness in morning
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Muscle pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Top treatments taken by people for rheumatoid arthritis*
Treatment
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
14,157
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(23)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
3,097
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(15)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
2,941
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(12)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
3,388
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(12)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
1,313
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(11)
*Data from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Compare treatments taken by people with rheumatoid arthritis*
Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Perceived effectiveness
for rheumatoid arthritis (13 evaluations)
Total evaluations
13
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(23)
Perceived effectiveness
for rheumatoid arthritis (12 evaluations)
Side effects
tension headache
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(15)
Perceived effectiveness
for rheumatoid arthritis (5 evaluations)
Side effects
breakout on skin with what looks like acne but painful to touch
weight gain
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(12)
Perceived effectiveness
for rheumatoid arthritis (3 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea
headaches
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(12)
Perceived effectiveness
for rheumatoid arthritis (3 evaluations)
Side effects
drug induced lupus erythematosus
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
rheumatoid arthritis
(11)
*Data from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
Who has rheumatoid arthritis on PatientsLikeMe?
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 15 | |
| 20s | 247 | |
| 30s | 1,257 | |
| 40s | 3,378 | |
| 50s | 7,730 | |
| 60s | 9,515 | |
| 70+ | 5,218 |
Distribution of sex
| Sex | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 2,679 | |
| Female | 24,977 |