Arthritis - Prognosis
About 15 percent of patients with RA experience their symptoms for only a short period of time. The symptoms then disappear with no long-term effects. For other patients, however, the symptoms never disappear and become progressively worse over time. In general, patients with RA have a shorter lifespan by three to seven years than individuals without the disorder.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disorder without a permanent cure. The rate of progression can sometimes be slowed. Factors that may help in reducing the disorder's progress include weight loss, exercise, surgical treatment, and some alternative therapies.
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