How To Achieve RA Remission: Steps and Maintenance [VIDEO]

Medically reviewed by Grace C. Wright, M.D., Ph.D.

Written by Elizabeth Wartella, M.P.H., an editor at MyHealthTeam, in collaboration with AbbVie

Posted on March 26, 2025

Remission is the main goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).¹ Advances in treatment have made remission a possible goal for many people living with the condition.^1,2 RA remission may mean relief from your RA symptoms, as well as improvement in your quality of life and a lower risk of other health conditions.^1,3-5 Read on to learn more about the importance of RA remission and steps for achieving it.

Four Steps for Achieving and Maintaining RA Remission

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:30:08
Dr. Grace Wright
Remission is crucial in rheumatoid arthritis because it drives bone integrity and reduces the risk of osteoporosis, joint damage, and other comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and infections. Remission means that your disease is under control and you have little to no pain, swelling, or stiffness in your joints. It does not mean that RA is cured, but it does mean that the inflammation is very low and joint damage is not getting worse.

00:00:30:10 - 00:00:58:24
Dr. Grace Wright
I'm Dr. Grace Wright, and today we'll take a look at four steps for achieving remission. For individuals living with RA, achieving remission is essential for wellness and quality of life. Your health care provider can measure several aspects of your condition to help evaluate your RA and your remission status. Step one. Advocate for yourself. If your current treatment isn’t working,

00:00:58:24 - 00:01:28:00
Dr. Grace Wright
symptoms like joint pain, swelling or fatigue persist, or inflammatory markers remain high, it might be time to reevaluate. From a patient's perspective, a basic provider may say, “Well, you look fine. You're doing fine, so let's just continue with the status quo,” and leave everything as it is. That's quite difficult if you're the one not feeling well. It's important to say, “I don't feel as well as I wish to feel.

00:01:28:02 - 00:01:56:03
Dr. Grace Wright
Can we consider something different?” Step two. It's also important when you decide, with your health care provider to move on to a new therapy to ask: “When? When can I expect to see a difference?” Some treatments work within weeks, while others take months. If the treatment you're on isn't working well after about six months, it might be time to think about switching treatments in order to get your RA under control.

00:01:56:05 - 00:02:26:00
Dr. Grace Wright
Step three. Play a key role in your wellness by focusing on what you can control: diet, exercise, sleep, psychological health, and keeping your provider updated regarding your symptoms. Medications and therapies require collaboration between you and your health care provider. As I tell my patients, there are things that you can do, and then there are things that we have to do together with the therapies that we have.

00:02:26:02 - 00:02:53:04
Dr. Grace Wright
Step four. Voice your opinion regarding the type of therapy you'd like to receive and your treatment goals. I think it's important for your provider to acknowledge your preferences, if you have them, regarding your medication. Discussing these preferences can open a dialog to help you feel heard and respected. Learn more and connect at myRAteam.com.

Dr. Grace Wright spoke with myRAteam to explain the importance of achieving remission with RA. Dr. Wright is a rheumatologist who earned her medical and doctoral degrees from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and worked at NYU Langone Health. She founded the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR) in 2014.

The Importance of RA Remission

When you think of remission in RA, you might consider how you feel and function in your daily life, but did you know that RA remission can affect your overall health, including the risk of other diseases? “Remission is crucial in rheumatoid arthritis because it drives many health outcomes,” Dr. Wright said. RA can affect your risk of other health conditions, like osteoporosis, infection, and heart disease.^3,5 Achieving RA remission can help reduce these risks and improve your quality of life.^1,3,4

Here are four steps Dr. Wright highlighted for achieving and maintaining remission with RA.

1. Advocate for Yourself

According to Dr. Wright, if your RA treatment isn’t working — whether you’re still having symptoms, like joint pain, swelling, or fatigue, or your markers of inflammation remain high — then it’s time to talk with your healthcare provider or rheumatologist (a specialist who treats inflammatory conditions like RA). Dr. Wright emphasized the idea of not settling for good enough. Remission is an achievable goal of treating RA.²

If your healthcare provider thinks you look fine, but you don’t feel fine, then speak up, she said. Prepare for your appointments by tracking your RA symptoms — when they occur, how severe they are, and how they affect your daily life.⁶ Bring this information, along with a supportive friend or family member, to make your visits more effective. Several types of treatments can help manage RA and make remission an achievable goal.¹

2. Ask Your Healthcare Provider When You Can Expect To See a Difference

If your healthcare provider suggests a new medication or a change in the dose of your current medication, ask your questions, voice any concerns, and talk about your goals for treatment. Tell your healthcare provider which RA symptom bothers you the most, and ask how treatments work and what side effects they may have so that you know what to expect.⁶

Dr. Wright suggested asking when you can expect to feel a difference in your RA symptoms. She said that some medications may take weeks or months to work. However, if the treatment you are on isn’t working well after about 6 months, it might be time to think about switching treatments in order to get your RA under control.

3. Focus on What You Can Control

While working toward remission with RA, focus on factors you can control, Dr. Wright suggested. These include diet, physical activity, sleep, your mental health, and communicating changes in your RA symptoms to your healthcare provider. Making an effort to get good sleep, manage stress, and exercise regularly can help you feel better overall.⁷

When it comes to RA, there is a lot you can’t control. Treatments may take time to work, and you may need to try different treatments before you find the best one for your RA.⁸ Focusing on what you can control and collaborating regularly with your healthcare provider are important steps in working toward RA remission, Dr. Wright said.

4. Voice Your Medication Preferences and Treatment Goals

Finally, Dr. Wright highlighted the importance of speaking up about your medication preferences and treatment goals when talking with your healthcare provider. You get a say in your treatment plan, and asking your questions, expressing your concerns, and talking about your goals can help open a dialogue with your healthcare provider. Consider yourself a partner with your healthcare provider when determining the right treatment plan for your RA.⁶ Ask them to discuss treatment benefits and risks.⁶

These steps from Dr. Wright can help you on your journey to remission with RA. In closing, she emphasized how managing RA is a partnership between you and your healthcare provider. Getting to remission requires open communication, collaboration, and trust.

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References

Ostor AJ, Sawant R, Qi CZ, Wu A, Nagy O, Betts KA. Value of remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a targeted review. Adv Ther. 2022;39(1):75-93. doi:10.1007/s12325-021-01946-w
Ajeganova S, Huizinga T. Sustained remission in rheumatoid arthritis: latest evidence and clinical considerations. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2017;9(10):249-262. doi:10.1177/1759720X17720366
Ruscitti P, Cipriani P, Liakouli V, et al. Subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the 3-year, multicentre, prospective, observational GIRRCS (Gruppo Italiano di Ricerca in Reumatologia Clinica e Sperimentale) study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2019;21(1):204. doi:10.1186/s13075-019-1975-y
Wysham KD, Baker JF, Narla B. Osteoporosis evaluation and treatment recommendations in rheumatoid arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2022;36(3):101757. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2022.101757
Ashai S, Harvey NC. Rheumatoid arthritis and bone health. Clin Med (Lond). 2020;20(6):565-567. doi:10.7861/clinmed.20.6.rabh
Rath L. What to expect at a rheumatology appointment: your first visit. Arthritis Foundation. July 11, 2022. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/treatment-plan/you-your-doctor/first-appointment-with-a-rheumatologist
6 self-care tips for RA. Arthritis Foundation. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/6-self-care-tips-for-ra
Rheumatoid arthritis. Penn Medicine. Updated January 25, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2025. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/rheumatoid-arthritis

Grace C. Wright, M.D., Ph.D. is a consultant rheumatologist based in New York City. She received her medical degree and doctorate from the NYU School of Medicine. Learn more about her here.

Elizabeth Wartella, M.P.H., an editor at MyHealthTeam, in collaboration with AbbVie holds a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University. She is passionate about spreading accurate, evidence-based health information. Learn more about her here.