Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful joint condition that affects 1.3 million Americans, most of whom (more than 70%) are women. There are many rheumatoid arthritis treatments available that can relieve RA sufferers from the debilitating pain of their condition. These treatments range from ancient, holistic practices to newly discovered, cutting edge remedies.

In order to achieve the most complete relief possible, RA patients often combine several types of treatment.

Medications Can Reduce Pain, Inflammation and Joint Damage
Historically, rheumatoid arthritis medications have consisted mostly of pain relievers (either NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or analgesics such as acetaminophen) and steroids such as prednisone which reduce inflammation and the resulting joint damage. These drugs have often been used in conjunction with a class of drugs known as disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (such as methotrexate and chloroquine) in order to slow the long-term progression of joint destruction due to rheumatoid arthritis.

Recently, a new class of drugs, biologic response modifiers, which act directly on the immune system, have started being used in conjunction with more traditional drugs. According to the Arthritis Foundation, this new, aggressive drug regimen has proven successful in severe rheumatoid arthritis cases.

Surgery Can Relieve Pain in Joints Severely Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are many surgical options for dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. They are excellent options to consider if your worst pain occurs primarily in one or two of your joints. Surgical options include:

Arthroscopic surgery. This minimally invasive surgery is used to remove, smooth or repair damaged joint tissue.

Anthrodesis (fusion). In this procedure, bones (usually in the feet, hands or spine of the patient) are fused together, limiting movement of the joint between them. This will reduce joint mobility, but will also decrease joint pain and increase joint stability.

Arthroplasty (joint replacement). This surgery is often very successful in helping people with severe RA to regain their mobility. It involves the complete replacement of the affected joint with a man-made joint and is a surgery recommended for patients over 50 years of age.

Boost Your Immune System With Regular Exercise and a Healthy Diet
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease related to immune system function, so improving immune function may alleviate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Proper diet, exercise and rest are necessary for optimal immune system functioning. Many patients have decreased their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms by reducing the amount of fat, sugars and allergy-provoking foods in their diet. Regular, gentle exercise such as walking, water aerobics and yoga can also reduce rheumatoid arthritis-related pain.

Stress can cause rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups, so stress reduction through proper sleep, rest, meditation or other methods can ease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Using Dietary Supplements to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are many dietary supplements on the market that claim to treat or cure rheumatoid arthritis. These supplements are attractive to RA sufferers who are worried about the cost or side-effects of FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis drugs. However, supplements can be very expensive and often contain active ingredients that can cause unwanted side effects or interfere with other medications.

Supplements can be made from animal (as in the case of fish oil) or plant ingredients or may consist of mega-doses of vitamins.

Since these supplements are often unproven and may be dangerous, you should read supplement labels carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking a supplement. Make sure to take only one supplement product at a time so that you can minimize side effects and can tell whether or not the supplement is working for you.

Acupuncture, Massage and Other Alternative Treatments
There are many effective alternative treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. The following treatments have been scientifically proven to help reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms while producing very few side-effects:

• Massage has been shown to reduce joint pain and relieve stress in RA patients.
• The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture can reduce joint pain. Make sure to find an experienced, licensed practitioner.
• Hydrotherapy, such as swimming or spending time in a hot-tub may decrease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Make sure to get your doctor's approval if you have a condition (such as lung disease or circulation problems) that might be adversely affected by hydrotherapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be debilitating, but there are many treatment options available. Exploring them can help RA sufferers get back into the swing of things.