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Rheumatoid arthritis: questions to ask your doctor

Last published:Jun 23, 2020

If you've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you may want to talk to your doctor to find out more. Here are some questions that you might want to ask.

  • How do you know I have rheumatoid arthritis?

  • What treatments can help with my pain and other symptoms?

  • Is my rheumatoid arthritis going to get worse?

  • What can I do to stop it getting worse?

  • Does rheumatoid arthritis run in families? Do my children have a raised chance of getting it?

  • Do I need to start treatment to help stop my joints wearing down?

  • What are the side effects of the treatments you recommend?

  • Is there anything I can do to help myself, such as exercising or changing what I eat?

The patient information from BMJ Best Practice is regularly updated. The most recent version of Best Practice can be found at bestpractice.bmj.com. This information is intended for use by health professionals. It is not a substitute for medical advice. It is strongly recommended that you independently verify any interpretation of this material and, if you have a medical problem, see your doctor.

Please see BMJ's full terms of use at: bmj.com/company/legal-information. BMJ does not make any representations, conditions, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that this material is accurate, complete, up-to-date or fit for any particular purposes.

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