Rheumatoid Arthritis & Leg Pain

People who suffer with rheumatoid arthritis often suffer leg pain. There are many ways to deal with this pain at home. However, those suffering leg pain should see their doctors to rule out other potential causes for the pain before self treating.

Peripheral Artery Disease

• People with rheumatoid arthritis should not assume that their leg pain is related to their RA. Peripheral artery disease, also called PAD, also causes leg pain. It is not uncommon for patients with RA to also have PAD. (Reference 1)

Leg Pain at Night

• Patients with RA often experience leg pain at night while trying to sleep. Using massage, over the counter pain medications and heat wraps around the leg before going to bed may help sufferers control pain enough to get to sleep.

Build Leg Muscle

• Building muscles in the legs may help reduce the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis by adding support to the joint.

Helpful Tips

• There are several ways to relieve leg pain from RA, including protecting the joints with braces, resting legs, and elevating the legs.

Anti-inflammatory medications

• Using over the counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen can relieve arthritis leg pain.