Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the autoimmune disorders and it affects mainly the joints. It is a painful condition that causes stiffness, swelling, and loss of function. Over long periods, the inflammation can get worse, causing joint deformity and bone erosion. Although there is no permanent cure, rheumatoid arthritis treatments can reduce joint inflammation, alleviate pain, slow down/ prevent joint damage, and enable you to be more active.
Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
During its early stage, patients with RA don’t generally see swelling or redness in their joints. However, most people say that they experience pain and tenderness. So, before we tell you how doctors treat rheumatoid arthritis, let’s find out what kinds of early arthritis symptoms may indicate you have RA:
- Tenderness, joint pain, stiffness, or swelling lasting for at least six weeks
- Pain in multiple joints
- Morning stiffness lasting for half an hour or longer
- Small joints like wrists getting affected at first
- Same joints on either side of the person’s body start getting affected.
Additionally, people with rheumatoid arthritis may get fatigued and some can also have mild fever. The symptoms of RA keep coming and going. If the inflammation is too much, it is known as a flare and a flare may last for several days (even months).
Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Without an accurate diagnosis, how can doctors commence rheumatoid arthritis treatments? So, they adopt the following means to diagnose RA:
1. Checking the patient’s medical history.
First, the physician will ask about the overall health and if there have been any issues with the joints in the past. They ask various other questions like when the pain is the most intense, how frequently the person experiences pain, and if any family member has/ had RA.
2. Physically examining the patient.
The healthcare provider will examine the joints to look for tenderness, inflammation, pain, limited movement, or warmth. They will also take the temperature if there is low-grade fever.
3. Imaging tests
Bone erosion is among the side effects of RA and so, ultrasound, MRI magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or x-ray can reveal if joints are wearing down. However, if the disease is in the early stage, the bones aren’t damaged and hence, erosions cannot be detected through imaging tests.
4. Blood tests
Blood tests can also reveal if there is inflammation. These two types of antibodies (blood proteins) are found in the blood if the person has RA:
- RF or rheumatoid factor can be found in nearly 80 percent of individuals with RA.
- Knowing the sed rate or ESR or erythrocyte sedimentation rate as CPR (C-reactive protein) levels also help doctors during RA diagnosis.
Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Therapy
Occupational therapy and physical therapy are the two arthritis therapy options for keeping joints of RA patients flexible. An experienced occupational therapist will be able to show new ways of doing regular tasks without putting too much pressure on joints. Picking up an object with forearms, for example, won’t exert pressure on affected joints.
Assistive devices can also come to your rescue when painful joints have made your life miserable. For instance, you can buy kitchen knives that have a hand grip. This way, you can reduce pain on the wrist joints and fingers. Buttonhooks are again amazing tools that will make it easy for an arthritis patient to get dressed.
Medications
For someone who doesn’t have severe rheumatoid arthritis, doctors first prescribe medicines to get rid of pain and stiffness. Biological response modifiers are among the preferred medicines that relieve pain and treat RA. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids are also given. However, you must never take RA medicines without consulting a doctor.
Surgery
There have been excellent RA treatment advances in the past few years and surgery is one of them. When RA medication fail to provide relief, surgery might be the best option to restore the patient’s ability to use their joints again. Surgery improves function and makes pain more manageable, and these are the common procedures:
Tendon repair
Joint damage or inflammation can cause tendons surrounding the joint to rupture or loosen. Performing a surgery will be effective in repairing the ruptured the tendons encircling the joint.
Synovectomy
Synovium is the joint’s inflamed lining. By removing the inflamed lining, surgery can lessen pain and improve the flexibility of the joint.
Complete joint replacement
This is the last option and when none of the pain management techniques work, doctors have no option but to remove the affected parts of the joint entirely. A plastic or metal prosthesis is then inserted in its place.
Joint fusion
Did you know that it is possible to fuse a joint surgically? Doctors recommend this operation to realign or stabilize a joint and decrease pain.
Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
While getting proper medical treatment is a must, all RA patients are encouraged to take the following measures to manage pain and swelling:
- You should follow an ideal diet for rheumatoid arthritis containing lots of fresh veggies and fruits.
- Exercise for arthritis patients is equally crucial.
- Topical application of pain-relieving gels and creams can give instant comfort.
Wrapping Up
We may conclude by saying that many people with RA are living healthy and active lives. So, instead of feeling hopeless, book an appointment with an esteemed doctor and make some modifications to your existing lifestyle. You should also try the natural remedies for arthritis that we have suggested.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the latest advancements in treatments for rheumatoid arthritis?
Other than medications, surgical interventions and occupational therapy are some newest rheumatoid arthritis treatments that guarantee arthritis pain relief.
How can lifestyle changes impact the management of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?
By making some lifestyle changes and trusting natural joint inflammation solutions, you can reduce RA symptoms. So, exercise regularly, eat a nutrient-rich diet, and maintain a healthy weight.
