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Medical Disability Advisor  >  Arthritis Rheumatoid  >  Return To Work

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Related Terms

  • Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis
  • Proliferative Arthritis
  • RA
  • Systemic Arthritis

Specialists

  • Emergency Medicine Physician
  • Infectious Disease Internist
  • Internal Medicine Internist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Orthopedic (Orthopaedic) Surgeon
  • Physiatrist
  • Physical Therapist
  • Rheumatologist

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Factors Influencing Duration

Although some individuals have mild symptoms that resolve, most people experience progressive disease over the course of their lifetime. The individual's age, the rate of disease progression, the severity of the disease, which joints and how many joints are involved, organ system involvement, the response to treatment, and the pattern of remissions and exacerbations all affect the length of disability.

New onset cases with today's disease modifying treatment will usually be able to stay at work, while cases with onsets greater than 10 years ago may have enough destructive arthritis to be permanently unable to do heavy work.

Duration Trends from Reference Data

DURATION TRENDS
 ICD-9-CM: 714.0  
CasesMeanMinMaxNo Lost TimeOver 6 Months
9178304340.5%13.3%
 
  
 
Percentile:5th25thMedian75th95th
Days:82963112199
 
  
 

Differences may exist between the duration tables and the reference graphs. Duration tables provide expected recovery periods based on the type of work performed by the individual. The reference graphs reflect the actual experience of many individuals across the spectrum of physical conditions, in a variety of industries, and with varying levels of case management. Selected graphs combine multiple codes based on similar means and medians.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
710.2 - Diffuse Diseases of Connective Tissue, Sicca Syndrome; Sjögrens Disease; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Sicca Syndrome)
714 - Rheumatoid Arthritis and Other Inflammatory Polyarthropathies
714.0 - Rheumatoid Arthritis; Arthritis or Polyarthritis: Atrophic, Rheumatic (Chronic)
714.1 - Feltys Syndrome; Rheumatoid Arthritis with Splenoadenomegaly and Leukopenia
714.2 - Other Rheumatoid Arthritis with Visceral or Systemic Involvement; Rheumatoid Carditis
714.8 - Other Specified Inflammatory Polyarthropathies
714.81 - Rheumatoid Lung; Caplans Syndrome; Diffuse Interstitial Rheumatoid Disease of Lung; Fibrosing Alveolitis, Rheumatoid
714.89 - Other Specified Inflammatory Polyarthropathies, Other
714.9 - Unspecified Inflammatory Polyarthropathy

Return to Work (Restrictions / Accommodations)

Restrictions and accommodations depend on the joints involved. Individuals must be able to stop activity with the onset of pain, fatigue, or increased swelling. Individuals should avoid stooping, lifting, and standing for long periods, and should be allowed a change in position every 20 to 30 minutes. Individuals should avoid heavy lifting, high grip force, and repetitive motion. Adaptive devices should be used to avoid tight gripping or pinching. Evaluation of safety issues with assistive devices and lessened mobility are necessary. Use of prescribed pain medications may necessitate a review of drug policies. Individuals with RA may have difficulty with jobs that require either constant physical work or very sedentary work.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor






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