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.
