Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain and inflammation in the joints.
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
- Joint stiffness
- Joint pain
- Joint swelling
- Loss of joint function
- Mostly, RA is diagnosed via several blood tests. X-ray is also used for diagnosis. A family history of RA is a risk factor for developing its symptoms.
What are the causes?
- Cigarette smoking
- Obesity
- Injuries such as fractures and trauma
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
There are several treatments available for rheumatoid arthritis. Let’s take a look at the different treatment methods available:
Medication
Medication is a good option from among the rheumatoid arthritis treatments, and there are three kinds of medications that are used. These are corticosteroids, non-steroidal corticosteroid, and acetaminophen.
Medication helps with the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by slowing the process of damage to the joints.
Exercise
Simple yoga exercises can also be used as treatments for joint pain caused due to rheumatoid arthritis and also help in improving the mobility of a patient. These exercises should be done on a regular basis to get good results.
Buy assistive devices
You can put braces on your joints or can use crutches to walk around in your home. You can also install bars and other devices to improve your mobility.
Follow a healthy diet
A rheumatoid arthritis-friendly diet needs to be incorporated, which comprises of vitamin A, C, and selenium with food like dark chocolates, berries, kidney beans, spinach, and so on. Food having flavones should also be consumed, such as green tea, berries, broccoli, grapes, and soy products. Omega 3 fatty acids are specifically important, and you can get these from fishes like tuna, mackerel, and salmon, and from walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. Food products to be avoided include those that contain trans fats and carbohydrates.
Surgery
Surgery can surely help in rheumatoid arthritis treatments, and there are three kinds of surgical procedures that are used. These are as follows:
Joint fusion
Surgeons realign joints the in this kind of a surgery.
Joint replacement
Surgeons remove the damaged part of a joint and replace it with a prosthetic.
Repair tendons
Inflammation can damage the tendons and hence surgeons fix these damaged tendons.
Quit smoking
Smoking cigarettes have been directly correlated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Hence, patients who are addicted to smoking must quit smoking as soon as possible. It has been observed that almost 50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients are regular smokers.
Importance of body movement
It is said by doctors that patients with RA have to keep moving since mobility is very important.
A healthy lifestyle
An overall healthy lifestyle is very important; a careless living style can cause the condition to aggravate.
Weight reduction
Focusing on weight reduction can help in reducing the inflammation of joints caused by the condition. Therefore, patients of RA have to focus on weight reduction.
Complementary therapies
Therapies such as aromatherapy and acupuncture will help in relieving pain and would help you feel at peace. Therefore, it is advisable to try these.
Creams and balms
NSAIDs are available as creams and/or gels to apply on the affected area of your joints. Specific injections are also available to treat inflammation.
Consult an occupational therapist
Going to an occupational therapist can be beneficial since they would help you with ways to take care of your everyday tasks and help you with mobility. This therapy also helps in relieving inflammation.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is an amazing way to help RA sufferers take care of their joint pain and the muscles with the help of a trained physiotherapist.
Hot/cold baths
Hot/cold baths can help a patient get over joint pain and can provide relief for a long time.
Chiropractic treatments
This is one of the treatments for rhematoid arthritis that basically focuses on treating joint stiffness, which is a common symptom. The treatment would include heat application, support exercises, and mobility training.
Electrotherapy
Electrotherapy is used to stimulate the muscles using electrical impulses. Electrical nerve stimulation is used to cure joint pain.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is a treatment where the patient is submerged in water for a long time in order to cure joint pain and stiffness. This treatment brings a lot of relief to the patient.
Massage
Taking the help of regular massage can help in relieving the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Massages are relaxing to the body and help in bringing peace of mind as well.
Osteopathy
Manual techniques are used to bring relief to the joints in this treatment technique. There are several techniques such as traction procedures and stretching, which are really beneficial to an RA patient.
There is no permanent cure with the treatments for rheumatoid arthritis; however, the treatment options bring a lot of relief to patients in order to help them lead a hassle-free life. The support of family and friends is very important, and meditation can definitely bring peace of mind. Advice from a good doctor is recommended before considering the many treatment options.
