Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is common in the United States affecting more than one million people. It doesn’t matter your age or race, although it typically occurs in people between the ages of 40 and 60. Women are three times more likely to suffer from this disease and it can increase chances of osteoporosis, especially for women after menopause; due to bone loss and sometimes medication. Arthritis is a general term used for inflammation in a joint. This inflammation also comes with redness, swelling, warmth, and pain within the joint. What distinguishes rheumatoid arthritis from “regular” arthritis is the symmetry, meaning it affects both sides of the body, typically the hands, wrists, or knees. RA can also affect organs such as the heart, lungs, and eyes.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. Some of the symptoms are fatigue, stiffness in the morning, and joints swollen and painful. For some, rheumatoid arthritis can last for years without relief and others can experience times of relapse where they don’t have any symptoms. The cause of RA isn’t known, something just triggers the immune system to attack the joints and sometimes organs. RA is hereditary though. Once the immune system is triggered, immune cells (antibodies) move from the blood to the joint and the joint-lining tissue. The immune cells then produce inflammatory substances, as this progresses the inflammation substances wear down the cartilage. When the joint-lining tissue becomes inflamed, it produces excessive joint fluid within the joint. As the cartilage wears down, the space between the bones narrow eventually leading to bone rubbing on bone, causing more pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to diagnose because there isn’t a specific test for it. In order to diagnose RA you must tell your doctor all of your symptoms. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, give a physical exam, and order either laboratory tests or x-rays. A complete blood count test would show how much inflammation is present in the body. X-rays can show swelling of soft tissue and loss of bone density. An MRI could also be done and show inflammation before it would appear on an x-ray. It is important to report all of your symptoms.

There isn’t any cure for RA, but there are treatments. The main goal for treating RA is to control the inflammation and slow or stop the progression of RA. Treatment can come in the form of medications, physical therapy, or sometimes surgery. Even having a regular exercise program can help. Surgery is usually used as a last measure or if the patient is in severe pain that won’t subside. Usually surgery consists of replacing joints. Physical therapy helps to keep you active and teaches you the right methods of using hot and cold therapy to help with the pain and massaging. There are many different anti-inflammatory drugs that could help including Enbrel, Humira, or even steroids.