Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Treatments, and What Works Best

When your body turns against itself, it’s not just pain—it’s rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints. Also known as RA, it doesn’t just cause stiff, swollen fingers or aching knees—it can wear down cartilage, damage organs, and leave you tired even after a full night’s sleep. Unlike regular osteoarthritis, which comes from wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis strikes without warning, often in your 30s or 40s, and it doesn’t care if you’re active, healthy, or young.

This isn’t just a joint problem. autoimmune disease, a condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissue is the root cause. Your immune system, meant to fight viruses and bacteria, starts seeing your own joint lining as a threat. That’s why inflammation doesn’t go away—it keeps coming back. And it doesn’t stop at the knees. People with rheumatoid arthritis often deal with lung scarring, eye dryness, heart issues, and even skin nodules. It’s systemic, which means treating just the pain won’t fix the real problem.

That’s where DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs that slow or stop joint damage come in. These aren’t painkillers—they’re the backbone of treatment. Methotrexate is the most common, but if it doesn’t work, doctors turn to biologic drugs, targeted therapies that block specific parts of the immune response. These can be life-changing, but they’re expensive and require careful monitoring. Some people find relief with physical therapy, diet changes, or even low-dose steroids, but none of these replace the need for real disease control.

You won’t find a cure here, but you will find real strategies that help people live better. The posts below cover everything from how newer biologics compare to older meds, what side effects actually matter, and which supplements might help—or hurt—your joints. You’ll see what works for real people, not just textbook cases. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, struggling with side effects, or just trying to understand why your pain won’t quit, this collection gives you the facts without the fluff.