Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments are designed to reduce your inflamed joints and alleviate the pain and discomfort. There are a variety of Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments available for those that have this affliction, but keep in mind that these treatments will only reduce or control your problems as there currently is not cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
There are two main classes of medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis: first-line and second-line drugs. First-line drugs are quick to respond to symptoms of the disease and include aspirin and cortisone because they are used to swiftly reduce inflammation and pain. Many patients wish to avoid the use of steroids during their treatment, meaning products like Naptosyn, Advil, Motrin, Medipren, and Lodine should be selected. It is also common to try an assortment of drugs before finding the one or ones that work the best.
The disease affects most people from middle age, but some children and young adults can face earlier onset (Juvenile Arthritis). Unlike Ankylosing Spondylitis, it affects double or more women than men. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects both sides of the body, which is called having symmetrical symptoms. This means if a person has it in one knee, they will have it in the other as well. It commonly affects the wrists and finger joints, but can be in any part of the body.
It might be important to consider why you want to rebuild the cartilage between the joints. Normally, arthritis sufferers take some form of medication reducing the inflammation and eliminating the pain. However, the problem with this remains that the joint is still aching but the brain is not registering the pain. Therefore, the unaware arthritic patient goes on hurting the joints and cartilage more and more while severely damaging the joints and existing cartilage.
Normally, the recommended treatment involves encouraging physical activities. The person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis has to exercise his or her joints to avoid complete stiffening and disability. Also, one needs to take proper rest to reduce the inflammation of joints. In some cases, the individual uses devices called splints to reduce pain and to carry out daily activities independently. For instance, with the use of splint, one can rise from bed or get up from a chair without taking help from another person.
Unlike illnesses that have a set progression of symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis is unpredictable. What symptoms appear, how often they appear, and what joints and organs are affected vary widely, depending on the individual. In some sufferers, rheumatoid arthritis will flare up occasionally, only to be followed by periods of normal health. Others experience recurring attacks without returning to a state of full wellness in between. Many experience a slow and steady increase in the severity of their symptoms over time.
John Adison
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