I was diagnosed via symptoms and bloodwork just recently. My primary care physician suspected RA, but it was 3 months before I saw a rheumatologist and began aggressive treatment. I suspect that I started feeling the pain of RA over a year ago, but my career as a high school administrator is demanding, and requires me to be on the move. So I attributed the feet pain I was experiencing to my job. Over the summer I started feeling constant pain in my feet and legs, then my fingers, hands, wrists. It progressed very quickly causing me to see my primary care physician a few times before she landed on the diagnosis of RA and referred me to a rheumatologist.

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