Rheumatoid Arthritis: Treatments

All About Rheumatoid Arthritis

• All About Rheumatoid Arthritis

  By Mary Kearl
  
  What to Expect
  
  Scientists have figured out what happens when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA): it causes tissues lining your joints to become swollen, stiff, and painful (inflamed), but they still don't quite know what causes it or how to prevent it. This inflammation has the potential to destroy your joint tissues and make daily activities like walking and doing tasks with your hands increasingly difficult. Find out how to avoidworst-case scenarios and how to reduce risk here.

• All About Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Check Your Symptoms
  
  

  "Early diagnosis and treatment of RA is critical if you want to continue living a productive lifestyle," says the Arthritis Foundation, adding "Early aggressive treatment of RA can limit joint damage, which in turn limits loss of movement, decreased ability to work, higher medical costs and potential surgery." There is no single test -- instead your doctor will examine your joints for swelling or tenderness, and ask about your symptoms. These include pain, stiffness and swelling in your hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, knees, or neck.

• All About Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Are Genes to Blame?
  
  While RA affects 1 percent of the population, about 70 percent are women, but men are often affected to a greater degree. Onset often begins somewhere between your 30s and50s, but children can have it too. HLA-DR4 is the genetic marker associated with RA, but not everyone with it has the disease, but people who have the marker could be likely to have a faulty immune system.

• All About Rheumatoid Arthritis

  When Infection Strikes
  
  Some medical experts believe RA is contracted through a virus, but there is no conclusive proof. It could be as simple as contacting a germ that has no effect on most people, but when it enters the body of someone disposed for RA an abnormal reaction causes the body to attack joint tissues. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, the affected person's immune system attacks its own tissues as though they were foreign substances.

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  Take Care of Your Joints
  
  Joint pain and other RA symptoms such as fatigue and stiffness can make ordinary activities difficult, especially during RA flares. Consult a therapist to learn about the best ways to manage everyday tasks. They may suggest using splints, braces, slings, elastic bandages or shoe inserts to reduce the pressure on your joints and shield against future injury. Find out more about physical therapy for RA here.

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  Exercise in Moderation
  
  You might think your symptoms would prevent you from exercising. In fact, moderate workouts like stretching, strengthening and conditioning can actually help reduce pain and improve functioning. Add conditioning routines through aerobic fitness like walking, biking, swimming or water exercise (the Arthritis Foundation has their own aquatic program). "If you feel fatigued, and if an activity causes you pain for more than two hours after you stop, then you need to slow down," advises rheumatologist David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD, in his book 'The Duke University Medical Center Book of Arthritis.

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  Stick to a Preventative Diet
  
  There is no diet or supplement known to improve RA symptoms for the long run; however, getting enough calories, protein, and calcium is a critical part of maintaining wellness. People with RA have a high risk of developing osteoporosis. Side effects from some treatments as well as a decrease in physical activity only up the risk. To combat this, take 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D daily. It also recommended that people with RA take bisphosphonates which increase bone formation.

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  Prevent Flare Ups
  
  Being over-worked, over-stressed and overly tired all put you at risk for RA flare ups. Making sure to space enough breaks and rests throughout the day, and not over-exercising are good precautionary measures. The Arthritis Foundation recommends keeping a journal of your top stressors, so you can avoid them in the future. This can also be a good place to vent. Massages, acupuncture, counseling and behavior modification can also help you manage your RA.

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  Meds that Can Help
  
  The main drugs used to control RA include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen which help reduce inflammation andrelieve pain; analgesic drugs which help relieve pain but may not affect inflammation; glucocorticoids or prednisone which can slow joint damage; disease modifying antirheumatic drugs which when paired with other drugs can help slow joint destruction; biologic response modifiers which help reduce inflammation. Talk to your doctor to find the best medication plan.

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  Operations to Consider
  
  If medications and other treatments don't seem to be working ask your doctor about surgery. Joint replacement (arthroplasty), the most frequently performed surgery helps relieve pain and improve or maintain joint function, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Tendon reconstruction is a procedure most often used to improve hand functioning; this can be done along with synovectomy which removes inflamed joint tissue. Another common procedure is arthroscopy, which removes debris or inflamed tissue in ajoint. Meet with a doctor to find the best option for you.