Preparing questions in advance can help patients have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions about rheumatoid arthritis (RA):

1. How do you know I have RA and not some other form of arthritis?
   
   
2. Will RA spread to other joints in my body?
   
   
3. What tests will confirm my condition? Will I need to take them again to monitor the disease?
   
   
4. What drugs can help my condition? Do I need to take them all the time or only when I have pain?
   
   
5. Should I watch for symptoms in body areas or systems other than my joints?
   
   
6. Do the different types of drugs have the same effects?
   
   
7. What changes should I make in my diet to help RA?
   
   
8. Will exercise improve or worsen my pain?
   
   
9. How do I know when I should exercise and when I should rest?
   
   
10. Can physical therapy, occupational therapy, heat therapy, cold therapy, water therapy, biofeedback or other such treatments help me?
    
    
11. Is it possible my RA may require surgical treatment? If so, what type of surgery is recommended, and what is the prognosis?
    
    
12. How likely is my RA to cause heart disease or other complications? How often should I get my cholesterol, blood pressure and other cardiac risk factors checked? Do I need any treatment for this?