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Medicanet 
conditions and treatments
arthritis
arthritis treatment
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment |
Rheumatoid Arthritis TreatmentRheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack healthy cells within the body.
This results in an inflammation of the affected part which is termed as arthritis. Medical research has been unable to determine why exactly the body’s immune system attacks the very cells it is supposed to protect.
Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis has some typical symptoms such as fatigue, lack of appetite, low grade fever, muscle and joint aches, and stiffness and loss of mobility. The small joints of the hands, wrists, feet, and knees become inflamed in a symmetrical distribution.
The inflammation may even spread to attack other body parts such as the eyes, mouth, vocal chords, lung, heart, and blood vessels.
Physicians diagnose this disease after reviewing the patient’s medical history, taking X-ray and blood samples, and performing arthrocentesis or arthroscopy.
Diagnosis is a slow and tricky process because this disease can mimic the symptoms of other diseases such as gout or joint infection.
Treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis varies with the severity and extent of the infection. The most common medicines that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and nabumetone.
However continuous use of these drugs may lead to acidity and other unwanted side effects. In such cases, where the medication is to be taken over a prolonged period, other anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib may be used. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are also used but their long term usage can cause serious side effects.
In addition to anti-inflammatory medication, the physician may prescribe disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, or methotrexate.
These are slow –acting medications which, while not very useful for counteracting the symptoms of an acute attack, are very beneficial in the long run. They slow down the progress of this disease and save the joints and tissue from permanent damage. In some cases, Immunosuppresants are also used to control the unwanted reaction of the immune system that leads to rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to these medicines, medical research is coming up with a host of new medicines that show great promise in stemming the progress of rheumatoid arthritis and minimizing the damage caused by it.
In some severe cases, medication may not be enough and the physician may opt for a procedure known as Prosorba Column, in which certain unwanted antibodies are physically filtered out from the patient’s blood. In case a joint gets badly damaged, you may have to consider going in for joint replacement surgery.
In addition to medicines and surgical options, physicians usually prescribe physical therapy to complement and speed up the treatment process. It is important to regularly carry out the exercises prescribed by your physician.
A regular system of exercise strengthens the muscles and helps keep the limbs mobile and flexible. When it is combined with a healthy diet it also prevents you from gaining weight. Excessive weight puts extra strain on the already burdened limbs and will speed up the degenerative process of this disease.
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