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Welcome to RA Connect! Visit the RA Connect Forum Now | Join the RA Connect Group


WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?

Rheumatoid arthritis (rue-ma-TOYD arth-write-tis) is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.


Paying too much for your arthritis medication? Take a brief survey to tell us your story!

The Arthritis Foundation is embarking on a new initiative to raise awareness about the unfair cost sharing burden of arthritis medications. We have heard from many of you that arthritis medications often are unaffordable. We are beginning to work with other patient advocacy organizations to collect patient stories to help us illustrate this problem.

Is the cost of your prescription drugs (such as a biologic) a barrier to your treatment? Have you stopped taking prescription drugs due to out-of-pocket expenses, even though you have health insurance?

If so, you and your story can be part of the solution to lower costs for arthritis medications. Click here to take a brief survey to tell us more. Arthritis Foundation staff may contact you soon to learn more about your circumstances.

The pain, cost and disability of arthritis is unacceptable - let's work together on finding solutions! Thank you for joining your voice with ours!

PS - Please forward this survey link to others with rheumatic conditions who may also forgo treatment due to high prescription drug cost.

If you are having difficult accessing the survey from the link above, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5LMY7BG.



The Arthritis Internet Registry (AIR)

Help researchers find more effective treatments and maybe even a cure for your arthritis? All you need to do is fill out a few questionnaires to help advance scientific discovery! Learn More...

The Arthritis Internet Registry (AIR) is a new research project where scientists learn about your experience with arthritis through questionnaires over the internet - how it affects your daily activities, the treatments you use, and all medical events that may happen to you, even if not apparently related to your arthritis.

This study is being run, in-part, by the experts at the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (NDB), a non-profit research group founded by master rheumatologist Dr. Fred Wolfe in 1998. There is no charge or obligation ever for joining and participating in the AIR study.






Arthritis Foundation Life Improvement Series Programs

Take control with the Arthritis Foundation's Life Improvement Series programs that are proven to reduce pain and physician visits, decrease stiffness and increase function.

As the national authority on arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation is in a unique position to present programs that make a vital difference in the lives of people with arthritis. Our exercise and education programs were developed by experts and are proven to benefit people with arthritis.

Offered by The Arthritis Foundation - Delivered With Results

While every individual is unique, many people benefit from the Arthritis Foundation Life Improvement Series classes. See evaluation studies for the Aquatics, Exercise, and Self-Help programs.

Our Programs are in Your Community

Arthritis Foundation programs are offered throughout the country in most major cities and in many convenient community-based settings, such as your local YMCA. Available at minimal cost to participants, they are offered in locations that are attentive to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, including access for people in wheelchairs and with impaired mobility. Your local Arthritis Foundation office can help you find programs and services available in your community.



 
RA Connect Blog Roll
Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:47:00 Z
It's snowing just a little bit in Boulder today. The picture is of the snow that has accumulated on the fence in my back patio since last night - I would say it is almost a foot. And it doesn't look like it is planning to slow down any time soon. So, after looking out the window, I guess I wasn't too surprised to find a voicemail on my phone letting me know that my physical therapy appointment for...
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:30:00 Z
As part of my Arthritis Ambassador assignment this month, I just emailed my Congressional Representative about physician reimbursement payments and therapy cap exceptions for arthritis patients who rely on Medicare. I know, I know, I am only 29 years old - nowhere near the Medicare age of 65. And most of the arthritis patients on Medicare are probably dealing with OA anyhow, rather than RA. S...
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:05:00 Z
In my opinion, there really isn't a lot of useful information out there about dealing with RA & pregnancy at the same time (which is one of the reasons I decided to share my story on this blog). Of the material that does exist, most of it is frustrating and scary rather than positive and uplifting. And you really have to dig through the depressing stuff if you want to find advice about how to...
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