Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can make every move you make more difficult. At Allegheny Health Network (AHN), our specialists have a deep understanding about how this condition impacts your health and quality of life. This knowledge helps us provide you a precise diagnosis so you can get relief fast.

Our rheumatologists provide complete diagnostic and treatment services at several outpatient offices across western Pennsylvania. You can also get care at our Autoimmunity Institute, located at West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield. Our institute makes it easier for you to address multiple health concerns in a single visit. The result? An unmatched level of comprehensive care.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue.

Rheumatologists often care for people with rheumatoid arthritis. These specialists are physicians who receive special training to diagnose and treat complex autoimmune conditions affecting your body’s bones, muscles, and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. It can cause different levels of joint pain and stiffness in your legs, arms, hands, or in any combination of joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect internal organs, such as the kidneys or lungs. For some people, symptoms slowly get worse over time. Other people experience most of their symptoms in short or long bursts (called flares).

Our rheumatoid arthritis center of excellence

At AHN, we help you manage every way rheumatoid arthritis affects your health and life. Our team of specialists has spent many years caring for patients with different types of rheumatoid arthritis. This experience helps us get you the right diagnosis — the first step to finding relief.