Working with rheumatoid arthritis: balancing your job and your health
Many people with rheumatoid arthritis keep working successfully. Practical ideas for talking to your employer, planning your day and handling flare days.
Key takeaways
- Many people keep working successfully with RA.
- Telling your employer is your choice, and can make helpful adjustments easier.
- Plan tasks around your energy and agree a plan for flare days.
- Follow-up appointments are a core part of your care.
You can keep going
An RA diagnosis doesn't mean the end of work. With the right treatment and simple adjustments, many people stay in their jobs. The key is to plan early rather than wait until it gets hard.
Should you tell your employer?
It's your choice. But if your manager knows, it can be easier to get adjustments such as:
- Flexible hours, or a later start on stiff mornings.
- Working from home when needed.
- A comfortable chair and desk, and a keyboard and mouse that suit your hands.
- Short breaks to move.
Pace your energy
Put tasks that need focus at your best times, and break big jobs into steps. Don't leave everything to the end of the week.
A plan for flare days
Agree in advance what happens when you have a flare: who covers your work and how you keep in touch. It lowers the worry when it happens.
Appointments are part of the job
Check-ups and blood tests matter for your treatment. Plan them early and ask for times that fit your work where you can.
References
Content is for medical awareness and does not replace medical advice. In an emergency, contact emergency services immediately.
