Arthritis Treatment, Causes, Types, Symptoms, Medication And Facts

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that commonly takes place on both sides of the body joints such as hands, wrists, or knees which characterizes the symmetry from other types of arthritis. It affects commonly in women but when men are affected, it tends to be severe when they have it.

Basically, rheumatoid arthritis attacks the joints producing inflammatory synovitis that advances to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints. It may affect many tissues and organs, and can also produce diffuse inflammation in the lungs, eyes, heart, blood, nerves and also nodular lesions in subcutaneous tissue under the skin. It may affect each person differently that some could have a gradual development of symptoms over several years, while others may be quicker, and some would have it for a time and then enter into a remission stage. Symptoms include joint pain and swelling, stiffness especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods, and fatigue.

Environmental, genetic, and hormonal factors are being combined and considered to be the cause of rheumatoid arthritis. There could be something that causes the immune system to attack the joints and at times other organs in the body. It could either be a virus or bacteria, however, some theories suggest that smoking could also lead to the progression of the disease.

Based on a combination of factors, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis includes the specific location and symmetry of painful joints, especially the hand joints; the presence of joint stiffness in the morning; presence of bumps and nodules under the skin which is known as rheumatoid nodules; results of X-ray tests that suggest rheumatoid arthritis; and positive results of a blood test called the rheumatoid factor which is present in most people. Cylic citrulline antibody test is a more recent and more specific blood test for rheumatoid arthritis.

Medications, rest and exercise, and surgery to correct the damage of the joint are few of the ways in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Factors such as the patient’s age, medical history, severity of the arthritis and overall health are to be considered in the treatment process.

Drugs to be administered for the prevention of the disease’s advancement are also available. They are anti-inflammatory painkiller drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Another is topical pain relievers which are being applied directly to the skin. Next are corticosteroids such as prednisone and lastly, narcotic pain relievers.

Strong medications like DMARDs or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are being given to interfere or suppress the immune system’s attack on the joints. Examples of these drugs are Plaquenil, methotrexate, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Azulfidine and Arava. Surgery could be an alternative when rheumatoid arthritis is not controlled with drugs.

Balanced rest and exercise is essential in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Once regression of inflammation is observed, guided exercise programs should be given to maintain flexibility and mobility of the joints. Even if there is no cure yet, early and assertive treatment has been proven to impede disability caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

In treating arthritis, a lot of options are involved and these vary on the type or the form of arthritis that a patient has. There are common group of drugs available that could guide you in choosing with the help of a doctor and these medications can either be purchased through over-the-counter or through doctor’s prescription or direction.

First is the administering of Topical Pain Relievers. Topical pain relievers or topical creams could be used as an alternative to oral medications for everyone who is trying to alleviate an arthritis pain. These are over-the-counter drugs and can provide faster relief especially on joints like the hand or the knee as long as the pain isn’t that severe.

Second group would be the Anti-Inflammatory Painkillers. Mostly every person who has arthritis has taken or is taking one of these drugs. They are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and are used primarily to treat inflammation or swelling of the joints, mild to moderate pain, stiffness, and fever. These drugs are available either over-the-counter or through prescription.

Third are the Narcotic Pain Relievers. They are another strong pain reliever variety which contains narcotic drugs which are combined most of the time with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID to improve effects. When taking narcotics drugs, the patient might have a risk of developing addiction or dependence on the drugs. And also, these drugs can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation and difficulty urinating.

Next are the Corticosteroids which are also known as “Steroids”. Steroids can treat many forms of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammation like vasculitis and if given within proper guidelines, these drugs can be very effective.

Albeit the capability to treat, side effects become apparent and discovered especially if high doses are administered over prolonged periods of time.

Fifth group of drugs are the Hyaluronan Injections. This drug is used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee and is also called viscosupplementation. They are injected directly into the knee joint which may complement the joint’s natural synovial fluid, alleviating the ability to use the knee, and relief of pain is achieved. Thus, it allows a person to do daily activities and making him move freely without pain.

Sixth would be the Disease-Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs. They are group of drugs used as a line of defense against some forms of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and related conditions. By modifying or suppressing the immune system in some way, DMARDs makes the disease process slow. However, like most drugs, DMARDs also has side effects.

It would take weeks or even months for these drugs to take effect and they are not designed to give immediate relief that is why they are often combined with NSAID or steroids to alleviate pain.

Seventh type of medication is the Biologic Therapy. Administered through intravenous infusion, these drugs have been one of the advances in treating inflammatory arthritis and these include psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They are called biologic response modifiers or biologics and they act by modifying or inhibiting specific components of the immune system that attacks the joints.

Eighth are the Chemotherapy Medications. Customarily, chemotherapy is used to kill or slow the quick reproduction of cells and decreases certain products made by these cells that cause an inflammatory response to occur. Thus, this is used to treat cancer and also people with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, rheumatic and autoimmune conditions have lower doses of medication than that used for cancer treatment.

Last would be Gout Medicines. Elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream is a sign of gout, that is why these drugs are used for the relief of pain, swelling, inflammation and the lowering of uric acid levels caused by this disease.