If you wake up one morning feeling really tired with aches in your joints, unable to move then it is better that you se your doctor immediately. It could be that you may be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. This is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause stiffness, pain, swelling and inflammation in the joint. It can also lead to the wearing away of the joints. It is termed as an autoimmune disease because here the very cells that are supposed to protect the body from anti bodies like viruses and bacteria ends up attacking its very own cells. This is why it is termed as a degenerative disease as the body’s immune system also breaks down. Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis can be decided by the doctor only after the patient has been thoroughly screened.  A number of laboratory and non laboratory tests are conducted on the patient so that the doctor can use the results of the tests to evaluate the extent to which the patient is affected and would be able to prescribe the proper medication. 

The main goals for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis include the slowing down of the disease, help pain relief and inflammation, maximize joint function and mobility and reduce joint damage and prevent  complications form arising. Rheumatoid arthritis has no cure it can only be controlled and effectively managed through treatments with the help of medication, physical therapy and diet. It is important to work with your rheumatologist and physician so that the disease can be managed with the help of new treatments and options which may be available from time to time.

The current methods which are available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis consist only on relieving pain, prevent or slow down joint damage, curtail inflammation to a great extent and help greater mobility. A few years ago most doctors would have prescribed only over the counter pain relieving pills like an analgesic so that the patient gets only pain relief. Nowadays improved medications help to prevent the joints from deterioration and even deformity.

Many new drugs which come under the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory category are nowadays used to help reduce the inflammation in the joints and also pain.

Anti-rheumatic drugs which are used for modifying the disease or DMARDs are also used for pain relief and to reduce joint inflammation. Nowadays surgery is also recommended by doctors for many cases for easy mobility. Acupuncture, massage and other alternative medical treatments are also recommended for the treatment of rheumatic arthritis.