Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that has no cure. This inflammatory disease leads to swollen, stiff, and painful joints. It will also reduce movements affecting the person mentally and physically. As such, the only way to cope with the situation is by educating people with rheumatoid arthritis about the disease. This education will help them to think positively and to cope with the chronic disease. Exercise, proper rest, and a balanced diet will ensure flexibility of joints and keep inflammation under control.
Understanding rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms is very important. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small lumps under the skin near the elbow, ears, or nose, or on the back of the scalp, over the knee, or under the toes. Called rheumatoid arthritis nodules, these painless and non-problematic bumps range from the size of a pea to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.
Signs and rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms
- Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joint-most commonly affects the smaller joints of your hands and feet, but elbows, knees, and ankles can be affected
- Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)
- Overall stiffness and achiness, especially after periods of stillness, such as sleeping or long plane rides
- Symptoms are worse in the early morning and lessen as the day progresses. General malaise/weakness
- Anemia
- Pain usually occurs during rest and movement
No matter what your treatment regiment, no matter whether it includes rheumatoid arthritis medication or not, the goals of any treatment for this disease should be to relieve you pain, reduce your swelling and inflammation, stop the damage this debilitating disease is doing to your joints, and improve your general sense of well being.
When the inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis calls for adequate treatment, there are many different options to consider. Since there is no known cure for this joint-affecting condition, patients must turn towards medication and other remedies in order to increase joint function and avoid further damage or deformity. Below you will find a brief description regarding an array of rheumatoid arthritis treatment options:
First-Line rheumatoid arthritis drugs
There are two main classes of rheumatoid arthritis medication: first-line and second-line drugs. A doctor’s goal is to pinpoint the first-line rheumatoid arthritis drugs that creates the least amount of side effects.
Corticosteroid Medications
A stronger first-line drug given to rheumatoid arthritis patients includes oral or injected corticosteroids.
Second-Line rheumatoid arthritis drugs
This approach towards rheumatoid arthritis treatment is slower to take action, including options, such as gold, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil). These selections are used to combat progressive joint damage, and encourage remission of the disease. Additional second-line drug selections include the oral approach (Azulfidine), and injections (Solganal and Myochrysine).
Immunosuppressive rheumatoid arthritis drugs
Some of the products offering this effective medication choice include Rheumatrex, Trexall, Imuran, Cytoxan, Leukeran, and Sandimmune.
Surgery as choice for rheumatoid arthritis medication
Restoring joint mobility, as well as mending damaged joints are some of gains associated with this sort of procedure. Age, overall health, daily level of activity, affected joints, and disease progression are just some of the things that influence treatments choices. Overall, most patients respond the best to medical management when combining medications; specific joint exercises; rest; protective gear; as well as learning the ins and outs of the disease.
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