The objective of this research was to elicit the experience of living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the patient’s frame of reference and to understand the global impact that this chronic illness has on social, psychological and physical well-being. A phenomenological methodology incorporating Colaizzi’s procedural steps (1978) was used. Five main themes emerged from the research which highlighted the enormous impact that RA has on a patient’s life. Nurses need to adopt an holistic approach to care and ensure that they understand the illness from the patient’s perspective.