How to treat rheumatoid arthritis can involve a number of options, primarily aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, as well as helping to reduce damage to joints.
According to the Mayo Clinic, women are affected by rheumatoid arthritis two to three times more often than men and it most often occurs in people who range in age from 40 to 60, though it can start as early as age 25.
This disorder is classed as a chronic inflammatory disorder as well as an autoimmune disorder. The following is information regarding how to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Thought there is no cure, learning how to treat rheumatoid arthritis involves some of the following:
NSAIDs
NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories and can be helpful in addressing issues of inflammation and pain. This form of drug can be found in over-the-counter medications containing the ingredients naproxen and ibuprofen. Pain and inflammation are two of the more prominent symptoms of RA (rheumatoid arthritis), so finding an efficient way to address them, such as with an NSAID, can be most beneficial to RA patients.
Steroids
This medication can also help address pain and inflammation, as well as help slow the progress of damage to the joints. Prednisone and Medrol are two examples of corticosteroid medication used with patients who have rheumatoid arthritis.
Immunosuppressants
Because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, the use of immunosuppressants can help control the symptoms.
DMARDs
DMARDs are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The purpose of these drugs is to help slow joint damage and to help slow down the progress of the disease. There are multiple drugs in this category that are used with rheumatoid arthritis patients. A few are Traxall, Minocin, Plaqueril and Arava.
TNF-alpha inhibitors
These drugs help control the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced in the body. TNF – alpha is an inflammatory substance and can cause pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness. The use of these drugs can be especially helpful to patients who suffer from these symptoms.
Other Medications
A few other medications commonly used with rheumatoid arthritis patients include Orencia, Rituxan and Kineret. These drugs address substances made by the body that are inflammatory in nature.
Non-Drug Options
Other options may be used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, instead of or in addition to medication. They include therapy and surgery.
The therapy used can include learning new ways to do things, as well as using assistive devices. These techniques and devices will be demonstrated and recommended by an occupational therapist.
Surgery can consist of several options. They include arthodesis (joint fusion), synovectomy (the removal of joint lining), arthroplasty (joint replacement) and tendon repair.
The surgical option is one of last resort, but can be helpful when damage is significant to the affected area. The purpose of surgery would be to help restore function and reduce pain.
References
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Medline Plus. U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes for Health. Last Updated August 24, 2010. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rheumatoidarthritis.html
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mayo Clinic Staff. November 3, 2009. https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00020
