Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis » (second edition)

Tammi L. Shlotzhauer, M.D., is clinical instructor of medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and a practicing rheumatologist at Rheumatology Associates of Rochester. James L. McGuire, M.D., was chairman of the department of medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"This guide makes coping with and understanding the disease easier by outlining its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. The book also suggests exercises and gives advice on dealing with the pain and change in lifestyle arthritis causes." — Science News

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Ami N Mody, MD(Washington University Medical Center)
Description:This is a detailed guide for patients and families with rheumatoid arthritis describing, in simple language, what it is, its various manifestations, and what therapeutic interventions are available to treat them. The book is unique in its systematic and in-depth approach to every question. The first edition was published in 1993 and much has changed since then, especially in the field of therapeutic options, making this update quite necessary.
Purpose:The purpose, according to the authors, is to formulate a well-written, readable, comprehensive guide for patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, and for those who care about them and for them. One of the most important needs of persons living with rheumatoid arthritis is education. Informed patients and family members will be better able to deal with the disease and achieve better outcomes if they are educated about the disease, its potential complications, and its treatment. These are worthy objectives and this type of book is really needed.
Audience:According to the author, the book is written for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and for those who care for them or care about them, an appropriate audience. The authors are credible authorities.
Features:The book covers in a systematic fashion and in some detail various rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms and therapeutic options to treat them and includes such information as exercises that can be done at home, radiographic changes in the joints, etc. The best aspect of the book is that the language is straightforward, but the complexity of the disease is not downplayed. Excellent illustrations explain various exercises. Tables are used with great effect to convey information. It is interesting to note that questions such as the role of vitamins, spas, etc., that are frequently posed by patients but are generally not a part of routine rheumatology textbooks are included here.
Assessment:Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex disease that requires constant vigilance and significant compliance on the part of the patient and caregiver for optimal response to various therapeutic interventions. This book could prove to be invaluable in the care of the rheumatoid arthritis patients by providing a bridge between the available information and its application.