Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects 1-2% of the population. While its effects can be severe, recent advances in the past 20 years in both medication and physical treatment have made life with this condition much richer. IN most cases, inflammation can be well controlled with a balance of medications with careful monitoring to initiate weaning off medication as soon as control has been established through blood tests and clinical presentation for 3 months. Physical therapy will likely be needed to address joint pain and breakdown, muscle imbalance and to teach self-management of symptoms at some point.