What else can I do to help my treatment plan work well?

Besides taking your medicines as prescribed, follow all parts of your treatment plan. For example, your care provider might send you to a physical or occupational therapist to learn:

• Exercises to help keep your joints moving and to stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight can make medicines not work as well.
• New ways to do daily tasks without putting extra stress on your joints. This might involve using tools known as assistive devices.
• Self-care ways to ease symptoms. This might include using heat and cold to sooth sore joints.

Work with your rheumatologist. Take the advice you're given. Give the process time. Then you have a good chance of finding a treatment plan that works for you long term.