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Just Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? What You Need Now

The 11 most important steps to take (12 Photos)

Laura F. McCarthy on Dec 10, 2010 at 1:03PM

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Just Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? What You Need Now

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Don't Despair

When you learn that you have rheumatoid arthritis -- a chronic inflammatory condition that causes swelling and pain in the joints and interferes with their function -- the image of a grandparent or elderly aunt dealing with pain and immobility may come to mind. “Those images are no longer accurate,” says Patience White, M.D., vice president for public health at the Arthritis Foundation, and professor of medicine and pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. “Now there are ways to stop the progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms.”

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