Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. It can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and joint damage when not properly managed.
PACT Rheumatology provides rheumatoid arthritis treatment in Connecticut for patients who need diagnosis, medication management, biologic therapy, and ongoing rheumatology care.
Accepting New Patients | Hamden, Guilford, and Orange, CT
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a chronic autoimmune disease. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, pain, swelling, stiffness, and possible joint damage if left untreated.
Yes, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is often related to joint wear and structural changes, RA is driven by immune system activity and may affect multiple joints simultaneously.
RA often affects the hands, wrists, and feet, but it can also involve larger joints and other parts of the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may begin gradually and can be easy to mistake for everyday joint pain at first.
Common early signs may include:
If these symptoms last longer than six weeks, it is important to see a rheumatologist for evaluation.
RA may feel like deep aching, stiffness, swelling, or tenderness in the joints. Many people notice symptoms are worse in the morning or after periods of rest.
The condition often affects the same joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, wrists, or feet. Some patients also experience fatigue, weakness, or a general feeling of being unwell during periods of inflammation.
The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood. RA is believed to develop when changes in the immune system occur in people who may already have certain risk factors.
Common risk factors may include:
Having risk factors does not mean you will develop RA. A rheumatology evaluation is needed to determine the possible cause of joint symptoms.
RA diagnosis involves more than one test. Your provider looks at your symptoms, physical exam findings, lab results, and imaging when needed.
Your evaluation may include:
PACT Rheumatology evaluates the full picture to distinguish RA from osteoarthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, lupus-related arthritis, and other joint conditions.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids may be used for short-term relief of pain, swelling, or flares when appropriate.
DMARDs, such as methotrexate or hydroxychloroquine, may be used to reduce immune-driven inflammation and slow joint damage.
Biologic medications target specific parts of the immune system involved in inflammation. They may be recommended for moderate-to-severe RA or when other medications are not enough.
JAK inhibitors are oral targeted medications that may be considered for certain patients based on disease activity, treatment history, and overall health.
Follow-up visits and lab work allow your rheumatology team to monitor disease activity, medication response, and possible side effects.
Activity modification, movement strategies, and joint protection techniques may support daily function alongside medical treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis can involve flares, periods of remission, and changes in symptoms. An ongoing care plan helps patients monitor these patterns and adjust treatment when needed.
Early and appropriate treatment may reduce the risk of joint damage. Some patients may also benefit from physical therapy, occupational therapy, or support with activity modifications.
RA is a chronic condition, but many patients can manage symptoms and maintain daily function with specialist care and regular monitoring.
Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the risk of long-term joint damage.
Dr. Beth Valashinas, D.O., FACR, provides specialty care for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory or autoimmune joint conditions.
PACT Rheumatology offers medication management, DMARD therapy, biologic therapy, infusion services, and ongoing monitoring.
PACT works with patients who have new symptoms, recent diagnoses, inadequate treatment response, or more complex disease activity.
Patients can access RA care in Hamden, Guilford, and Orange, with service to nearby communities such as New Haven, Milford, Branford, Wallingford, and North Haven.
As part of Physicians Alliance of Connecticut, PACT Rheumatology can coordinate with related specialists when RA affects more than the joints.
Early RA treatment can make a difference. If symptoms persist or joint inflammation is suspected, do not delay requesting an evaluation.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the joints. This can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, inflammation, and possible joint damage.
Early signs may include morning stiffness, pain and swelling in small joints, symptoms on both sides of the body, fatigue, low-grade fever, and symptoms that last longer than six weeks.
Yes. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue, causing inflammation and joint symptoms.
RA may be diagnosed through symptom review, physical exam, bloodwork such as rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP, inflammation markers, and imaging such as X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI.
There is no current cure for RA, but treatment can reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and reduce the risk of joint damage.
The best treatment depends on disease activity, symptoms, test results, and treatment response. Options may include DMARDs, biologic therapy, JAK inhibitors, anti-inflammatory medication, and ongoing monitoring.
RA is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect multiple joints and other body systems. Osteoarthritis is usually related to joint wear, cartilage changes, and mechanical stress.
Yes. PACT Rheumatology provides rheumatoid arthritis treatment in Connecticut at locations in Hamden, Guilford, and Orange.
PACT, LLC & PACT MSO, LLC
322 East Main Street, Suite 1B
Branford, CT 06405
PACT, LLC & PACT MSO, LLC
322 East Main Street, Suite 1B
Branford, CT 06405
