Do I have to live with the joint pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis for the rest of my life?  

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but it can go into remission. Furthermore, treatments are getting better all the time 

Sometimes to the point a drug and lifestyle regimen can stop the symptoms in their tracks 

As a rule, the severity of rheumatoid arthritis waxes and wanes. Periods of active inflammation and tissue damage marked by worsening of symptoms 

Outcomes are also highly variable. Some people have a relatively mild condition, with little disability or loss of function 

Others at the opposite end of the spectrum experience severe disability due to pain and loss of function 

Disease that remains persistently active for more than a year is likely to lead to joint deformities and disability 

Approximately 40% of people have some degree of disability 10 years after their diagnosis