Rheumatoid arthritis is not scary, the key is early diagnosis and treatment. The six words of early diagnosis and early treatment can definitely be counted as a six-word motto for rheumatoid arthritis patients. If you master these six words, you will be able to achieve a very good prognosis. In the process, people have to learn how to become a smart rheumatoid arthritis patient. Let’s talk about it in detail today. The first step in being a smart patient is to learn to recognize recognize rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages of the disease. While the ultimate diagnosis is up to your doctor, you need to know under what circumstances to seek his or her help in order to detect it in time. So, under what circumstances do you need to suspect rheumatoid joints? Two things can be suggestive: 1. Swelling and pain in the joints. Swelling and pain in the joints can occur early in rheumatoid arthritis. People may have the impression as if only symmetrical swelling and pain in small joints (such as the joints of the fingers or toes) is rheumatoid, when in fact many of the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may be unilateral arthritis, or they may be in large joints. For example, swelling and pain in one knee or one ankle joint. But rheumatoid arthritis will definitely have swelling of the joints, if only the joints hurt, but not swollen, it may not be rheumatoid arthritis. 2. It lasts for a certain period of time. This time is at least 4-6 weeks. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic arthritis that is definitely persistent. Many people may have a short period of joint swelling and pain after being cold or exertion, but sometimes it gets better on its own in a few days, and then it doesn’t recur, and this situation may not be rheumatoid arthritis. If the pain and swelling in the joints continue to be unrelieved or recurring, rheumatoid arthritis should be suspected. What will a smart patient do when he suspects he has rheumatoid arthritis? He certainly will not rush to the doctor. Some people hate to get well in a hurry after the disease, there are the neighbor’s mother, there are looking for the charlatan doctor, there are seeking ancestral secret recipe. These ways are not smart. In my clinic, outside the circle for many years did not look for the right place, came in a wheelchair, crutches, outstretched hand joints like chicken claws, abound. This is all victimized by the so-called miracle doctors and medicines. The correct approach is: if you find yourself in line with the situation I said above, do not worry, do not rush, as soon as possible to the hospital to find a doctor. However, this doctor can not be found casually, because non-rheumatology and immunology doctors sometimes do not know so much about rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, you must go to a regular hospital to see a rheumatologist to confirm your diagnosis. The doctor may prescribe some tests, such as rheumatoid factor, CCP antibody, blood sedimentation, C-reactive protein and so on, and sometimes may ask you to take a picture, etc., so as to make a correct diagnosis. Don’t be reluctant to take tests to save your time and get a wrong diagnosis, which will delay your condition. Speaking of rheumatoid factor, I would like to ask you a question: does a positive rheumatoid factor necessarily mean rheumatoid arthritis? Many people think that a positive rheumatoid factor is rheumatoid arthritis, which is actually a misunderstanding. First of all, a positive rheumatoid factor is not necessarily rheumatoid arthritis. Positive rheumatoid factor can be found in many conditions, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and other rheumatic diseases besides rheumatoid arthritis, such as dry syndrome, lupus erythematosus, etc. In some normal people, especially those who have rheumatoid arthritis, the rheumatoid factor can be positive. Also, in some normal people, especially the elderly, a positive rheumatoid factor may be seen. So don’t be alarmed if you see a positive rheumatoid factor, it must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. In addition, not all patients with rheumatoid arthritis are rheumatoid factor positive. About 60-70% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are positive for rheumatoid factor, while the other 30-40% are negative, and the diagnosis of this group of patients should be particularly careful not to miss the diagnosis. Well, the diagnosis is implemented, then, how to treat the next step? The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is a big learning curve, and it may not be practical or, crucially, necessary for a patient to master the vast array of medication types and uses. Regarding treatment, a smart patient just needs to remember the following two points: the first is to follow the doctor’s instructions. Rheumatoid is a chronic disease, the so-called chronic disease is to follow you for life. Therefore, be prepared to take medication for life, never listen to the so-called can get rid of the root of the miracle doctor magic medicine or ancestral secret recipe, this will only delay the condition. Always follow the doctor’s instructions of the rheumatology and immunology department of the regular hospital to take medication. And in accordance with the time prescribed by the doctor to review. On the one hand, to observe the efficacy of the drug, and on the other hand, to observe the Buddha appeared drug side effects. Even if the condition has improved, or stabilized, do not arbitrarily stop taking the drug, must be under the guidance of the doctor to reduce the drug or stop taking the drug. The second is more communication. Treatment of rheumatoid drugs many have side effects, and even some or the treatment of tumor drugs, instructions written on the side effects will be very scary. But the real side effects will appear in fact very few, many patients in fact can not feel it at all. Even if side effects do occur, don’t worry, your doctor will adjust the medication according to your situation. The doctor will make adjustments according to your condition, but only if you communicate effectively with the doctor. Tell your doctor about your concerns and discomfort after taking the medication so that your problems can be solved in a timely manner. Don’t stop taking your medication at the first sign of side effects or at the first sign of side effects. The consequence of stopping the medication is that the disease will come back, and the consequence of coming back is that it will be more difficult to treat than it was in the beginning. So, you see, in fact, do a smart patient is not difficult, only need to do the following four points: 1, in the early stages of the disease can be alert to the possibility of rheumatoid arthritis; 2, find the right hospital, find the right doctor; 3, follow the doctor’s instructions for examination and medication; 4, timely communication with the doctor.