Rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe pain and stiff joints that make it hard for some patients to do their jobs. In fact, this disease is estimated to be responsible for a yearly cost of $11 billion due to work days lost.

Some patients who worry about taking too much of a prescription medicine might not take their meds as prescribed, including arthritis patients. Not following the dose instructions has become a lot more common.

Controlling the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis is no easy task. As such, treating the disease requires a specialist. A recent study suggests that patients should see a specialist as soon as possible.