Patient Resources

If you’ve been diagnosed with a rheumatic musculoskeletal disease or autoimmune condition, it can feel overwhelming.

You may go online to research questions such as, “What are my treatment options for autoimmune disease? What will happen as this disease progresses? Is this source of information actually reliable?”

To help you find answers, the rheumatology specialists at MultiCare have compiled a list of resources designed to help educate patients and families. These organizations are run by knowledgeable professionals with staff dedicated to providing accurate and up-to-date information.

• The American College of Rheumatology website is a good resource for a wide range of information about issues and conditions.
• The Arthritis Foundation is a great source of information about every type of arthritis and includes online networking.
• The Gout Education Society works to raise awareness of gout, an inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals.
• The Lupus Foundation of America provides local support, funds research and advocates for people with lupus.
• The Spondylitis Association of America supports research and offers education about the different forms of ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis.
• The Vasculitis Foundation provides education and support for a related family of nearly 20 rare diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels.

You can also find dependable information on any number of other rheumatic conditions and diseases via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) websites. The NIH also provides information about clinical research trials underway and lists requirements to apply.