Living with arthritis can be an experience of unpredictable days and unexpected changes. Tracking information about your symptoms and general wellbeing is an important way to proactively manage your disease and understand how it’s affecting your life.

Some important areas you can track include your:

• Ability to easily perform tasks of daily living
• Pain levels
• Sleep patterns
• Emotional health (feelings of stress, anxiety or depression)

Gathering this information and discussing it with your doctor can help determine if your condition is improving or worsening, as you work together to develop your customized treatment plan.

You’ll answer a series of questions that capture information about you in three areas:

1. Functional status (physical function)
2. Pain level
3. Overall feeling of wellbeing

The questions are based on the RAPID-3 ^© assessment commonly used by rheumatologists. You’ll provide your doctor with important information not available from blood tests, X-rays or any source other than you.

Based on your responses, a RAPID-3 ^© score is calculated. You’ll be able to track your scores each week and develop a chart that you can take to your appointments. It’ll help your doctor assess if your condition is improving or worsening over time. Then together, you can make the best decisions about your treatment plan. Before you begin, download the summary tracking spreadsheet.

Step 1

Download the summary tracking spreadsheet (below) and save it on your computer desktop. This will allow you to add your weekly RAPID-3© score and print as many sheets as you need.

Step 2

Choose a start date. Think about which day of the week you are most likely to have the time and desire to reflect on the past seven days and assess your health and abilities. You might want to start on a Monday so you can complete the weekly tracker on Sunday evenings as you mentally prepare for the week ahead.

Step 3

Sign up for reminders to track your weekly RAPID-3© score so you have a historical set of numbers to discuss with your physician!