Arthritis rheumatoid

Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

The hardest part of having and dealing with arthritis is alleviating the pain associated with this disease. This cannot be completely avoided but can be managed through proper lifestyle and application of certain medications.

The body reacts to pain in different ways for several reasons. There are certain physical factors such as the type of the patient’s nervous system and the severity of the rheumatoid arthritis condition. Emotional factors, which are equally important, include fears and anxieties about pain, previous experiences, energy level and the way surrounding people react to pain.

The first-aid drugs applied in periods of flare-ups are painkillers such as paracetamol and codeine which sometimes are prescribed in combination. Arthritis pain is also managed with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Corticosteroids have the effect of immediately relieving the pain when injected in the joints but due to serious side effects such as weight gain, osteoporosis (thinning up of bones), thinning of skin, easy bruising and muscle weakness are applied when the condition is extremely serious. Over-the-counter topical preparations which are rubbed into the skin can be found in the local pharmacy.

Other exercises can be prescribed by physical therapists.

Daily living can be assisted through different devices such as canes and toilet seat raisers. Learning certain relaxation techniques can also appear to be an important weapon in the personal war against rheumatoid arthritis. Organizing group activities and discussing the condition within patient focus groups can help people feel better and improve the understanding of the troubles and embarrassment that can accompany the disease.

There are also some complementary therapies which, without providing scientific evidence towards pain alleviation, are aimed at reducing the stress of living with rheumatoid arthritis. Those include massages, acupuncture (application of fine needles at certain points of the skin), osteopathy (a type of body massage combining forceful with gentle techniques to reduce the pain and swelling of joints), electrotherapy (tiny electrical shocks stimulating the nervous system), hydrotherapy (special exercises in shallow swimming pools), certain nutritional supplements such as fish oil because of its anti-inflammatory beneficial effects.
There is no special diet for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, although it is a common misunderstanding that night-shade foods such as tomatoes can aggravate the condition. There is no scientific evidence that certain foods affect rheumatoid arthritis better or worse than others.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Normally, the immune system of the body fights external agents such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints causing inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in people over 40 years of age, but can affect younger people as well with women being three times more susceptive to the disease than men. Currently, there are over 1.3 million people in the United States affected by the disease.
The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown but scientists have found that certain genetic factors play an active role in the manifestation of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is also a chronic disease, meaning that periods of remission when the disease is not active are followed by periods of relapse when symptoms reappear.

What are the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis ?

The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis appear to be fatigue, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, muscle and joint pains and stiffness. Muscle and joint pains and stiffness are most common in the morning and after periods lacking physical activity. With the day progressing, the more you use and flex your joints, the more relief of the arthritis pain you will experience. Symptoms tend to develop gradually and are first experienced in small joints such as those of the hands and wrists affecting the everyday activities. Another common manifestation of the disease is that it affects symmetrical joints – for example both hands, both knees etc. The symptoms also tend to come and go and their reappearance is usually called a “flare up”. During periods of flare ups symptoms are aggravating and are more intense and severe, causing extreme physical discomfort.
Symptoms other than joint pain and stiffness are warmth and redness when the lining of the affected joint becomes inflamed. Then the skin above becomes warm, red and swollen. Every one in four people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis develops skin nodules, which are usually not painful and most commonly appear as lumps under the skin of the elbows and forearms.