ABSTRACT
Most health professionals in primary care have experience of new presentations of rheumatoid arthritis, so it is important that suspect it and refer to a specialist team. However, because it is a chronic disease wee need to be involved in the continuing management and aware of the problems that may arise. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are extremely useful for reducing pain, swelling and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. All patients should start on NSAIDs and be given pain relief while they are awaiting their appointment for evaluation for second-line disease-modifying drugs which should normally be started within three months of diagnosis. Active rheumatoid arthritis may result in irreversible joint damage even months of the disease. Although NSAIDs may improve symptoms, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have the potential to reduce or prevent joint damage. Press claims of a 'new cure for rheumatoid arthritis' were, as usual, much exaggerated.
