Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease. It generally begins in middle-aged patients but can start earlier in life. Rheumatoid arthritis is actually an autoimmune disease. This means that your body itself is creating a chemical that causes the disorder. With rheumatoid arthritis, also called RA, the lining of the joints swells and moves in on the surrounding tissue. This interaction causes a chemical to be created that in turn attacks the tissue. RA causes joint pain and swelling immediately. If left unchecked the disease can cause fever, total body pain and even body-altering conditions such as hammer toes.

The pain that you experience around particular joints will be enough to tell you that you should seek a medical diagnosis. Once a doctor has evaluated you and decided that you have rheumatoid arthritis, the doctor will begin treatment based upon your condition and the severity of the disease. Multiple treatment options are available, depending on the severity of the arthritis.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is often used to treat RA. Therapists will prescribe joint strengthening exercises in an attempt to help the body rebuild. They also use splints, braces and even therapeutic shoes to treat patients. These devices help the joints to maintain a particular posture. Sometimes pain causes us to change the way we hold our bodies, which can make some conditions worse. These therapeutic devices brace the joints as they are held in the proper recovery position. Basic exercise programs are also prescribed because regular physical activity can help strengthen the body.

Medication

A variety of medications is available. Depending upon your condition and the preference of your overseeing physician, the right medication will be found for you. In general there are two types of medication used for rheumatoid arthritis.

• First Line Drugs- These drugs help you to feel better immediately because they focus on pain relief and swelling reduction. Aspirin and cortisone are commonly prescribed first line drugs.
• Second Line Drugs- This category of drug treatment works to fight the disease itself. Keep in mind that there is no cure for RA, but there are drugs that have been shown to stave the condition off. In some cases steroids are even used to help rebuild damaged tissue. Your doctor will prescribe the right second line drug for your condition.

Surgery

In more severe cases surgery is used to treat RA. Some cases require an orthopedic surgeon to simply replace the lining of the joint to treat the disease. In more extreme cases, a total joint replacement may be necessary. Hip and knee replacements are not unheard of and often allow patients to regain not only mobility but their lives. The pain from severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis can be crippling. Sometimes it takes the skill of an orthopedic surgeon to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

If you feel that your joint pain may be rheumatoid arthritis you can find more information here. For immediate answers from a medical professional call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362.

SOURCES
Northwest Medical Center Pain Management
Medicinenet.com – Rheumatoid Arthritis
Medline Plus/National Institute of Health
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Arthritis Today