May 22, 2008

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Posted in Category : Bone, Joint & Muscles Disorders

There are a number of causes of rheumatoid arthritis as heredity, infection, damage to the joint etc. these causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not controllable. The patient experiences the problems as pain, immovability of the joints, and effects on the other body parts and systems as well. Therefore, it is very important that it is detected and treated as early as possible.

The treatment can be divided into the initial level treatment and the more advanced level treatments. The initial level treatments are the treatments, which are taken in the initial stages of rheumatoid arthritis. The initial level treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes the intake of medications, nutrients and doing exercises. Their main aim is reducing the inflammation and relieving the patient from pain.

Generally, when the patient experiences the initial symptoms of the rheumatoid arthritis the anti-inflammatory disease drugs, modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, and analgesics are prescribed by the doctor.

Some of these disease modifying antirheumatic drugs are azathioprine Cyclophosphamide, gold salts, minocycline, ciclosporin (cyclosporine A), D-penicillamine, leflunomide, Cytotoxic, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SSZ), etc.

These drugs work against the infections that can occur in such a condition. Moreover, they also protect the joints and the bones from the damage.

Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis and thus relieve the patient from pain. Some of them are Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Glucocorticoids and Analgesics as acetaminophen Diproqualone, opiates, lidocaine, etc.

Apart from the drugs, the other treatments used as the initial treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis are diet, exercise, and techniques as acupuncture, etc. they are quite effective but they are usually prescribed along with the medications.

Supplementing the patient’s body with the nutrients essential for the joints can help in reducing the effects of the inflammation. Moreover, the nutrients as calcium bone protein, vitamins like Vitamin D, E, C, help against the damage by the rheumatoid arthritis and in the repairing job of the joints.

Exercises help in reducing the stiffness in the joints and increase the blood and oxygen supply other the joints. This helps in improving the health of the joints. The exercises should be done only under the monitoring of a rheumatologist or it can further worsen the problems.

Acupuncture and massage are the techniques, which is used in the initial levels of rheumatoid arthritis. It helps in reducing the swelling in the joints. These treatments are version useful for the cure of rheumatoid arthritis in the initial levels and are effective whatever the causes of rheumatoid arthritis may be.