| Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment |
| Written by Jonathan Green | |
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It is essential that before we talk about Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment , we should equip ourselves with knowledge about the disease and how it is caused. Did you know that Rheumatoid arthritis or RA as it is referred to in medical parlance is an autoimmune disease that leads to chronic joint inflammation? Rheumatoid arthritis affects not only the joints but also the tissues around the joints and other organs too. When antibodies start attacking the body’s tissues then autoimmune diseases are caused. Because of its capacity to attack multiple organs in the body it is referred to as a systematic disease. Medical researchers suspect that Rheumatoid Arthritis is causes by infectious agents like bacteria, fungi and viruses though this has never been proved right and the cause for this progressive disease remains unknown. Now that we know what the disease is all about and what causes it, we next come to the symptoms of the disease. Because it causes inflammation to the joints and tissues surrounding the joints, most patients experience severe pain in the affected areas and swelling. The patient feels tired as fatigue sets in; there is loss of energy and very little appetite. Muscle and joint aches, along with stiffness and a low fever are other common symptoms. During a flare the joints appear swollen, red, tender and painful. How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?Medical researchers have been toiling for years to find a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis but have been unsuccessful so far. With no known cure as of date, the only treatment for this disease is to help reduce pain in the joints and keep inflammation at a minimum. Doctors ensure that patients get maximum joint function and make sure that no deformity occurs in the joints or joints destruction takes place. It is important that early treatment proves effective in his disease and it s important that patients check with their physicians so it can be detected in the early stages it self.The treatment involved includes a good combination of medications along with joint strengthening exercises. Ample rest is advised to patients and the physician ensures that not only the patient but also their family members are educated about the disease. Many factors relating to the patient are taken into consideration before treatment is prescribed. The various factors include the extent and nature of the disease, the patient’s age, the general health condition of the patient, their present occupation, and the affected joints. Treatment becomes highly successful when there is cooperation between the patient, doctor and the patient’s family members. In the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis , two types of medications are used. The fast acting drugs known as first line drugs and the slow acting drugs also referred to as second line drugs. The second line drugs aere known as disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs or DMARDs. While Aspirin and cortisone are first line drugs, second line drugs used for treatment include gold, methotrexate and hydro-oxy- chlororquinine. Non –Steroidal anti inflammatory drugs are also used to relieve pain and bring down inflammation in patients and these include OTC prescriptions like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. These medications have been found to cause side effects and are very harmful to many organs in the body. Doctors resort to surgery only if medications fail to take effect. Total Knee replacement surgery is done these days to help arthritis patients who are under immense pain and suffering. Other surgeries include tendon repair and the removal of the joint lining. If you have been diagnosed for rheumatoid arthritis it pays to care for your body. Make sure that you get plenty of exercise. Swimming is supposedly beneficial to decreasing joint inflammation. Yoga is also beneficial and is very safe. Following a healthy diet also works wonders. Make sure you eat the right kind of foods. Patients suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis can apply heat to the affected areas so pain is eased and the painful muscles become relaxed and less tense. A good way for heat treatment is to have a hot shower for at least fifteen minutes or apply a hot pack on the affected joints. These days we hear about many herbal medications that are being sold in the market that helps in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Since herbal medications have no side effects it is quite safe to try them out to see if they work. Muscle relaxants in the form of cream and gel are used to rub on the affected areas so pain gets reduced and there is more flexibility of the joints. If you are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis by your physician, it is better that you avoid all medications that can cause side effects to your organs and instead work on exercises that could help joint movement and depend on herbal based medications for cure. |
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