Treatments

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis treated?

Rheumatoid Arthritis cannot be cured. The afflicted will have to live with the disease for the rest of his life. Therefore it is very important for the patient to reorganize his daily routine. Aiding devices can be found in specialized shops or rehab hospitals.

But, no matter how successful the treatment is, the disease will steadily advance, leaving behind damaged joints.

A treatment should anyhow be initiated as early as possible, in order to prevent the progressing of the disease and relief the patients pain. The treatment consists of a lifelong intake of drugs and physiotherapy.

A treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis aims at slowing down the diseases advancing and preventing further joints from being affected.

A treatment furthermore concentrates on targeted pain therapy and ensuring the flexibility of the limbs. Rheumatologists, orthopaedists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists are needed to conduct the individualized therapy.

Various forms of therapy:

• Medicinal Therapy: Nearly every rheumatoid arthritis patient has to take drugs. The lifelong drug intake eventually interferes with the malfunctioning immune system and this way constricts the diseases process. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as cortisone and pain-relieving drugs, such as analgesics are prescribed.
• Biological Therapy: Biotechnological produced drugs, „Biologicals", differ from drugs used in the medicinal therapy. Instead of implementing substances that subdue the pain, Biologicals interfere with the bodies' activity by blocking messengers (Cytocines), which cause the inflammations such as the Tumour Necrose Factor (TNFa). The therapy can even lead to a total relief of the symptoms. Usually the process of inflammation is slowed down and in some cases even successfully repressed. A successful therapy requires an early enough diagnosis.
• Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy is important for building up the muscular strength, needed to support the hurt joints keeping them smooth and preventing deformations. Targeted exercises relief pains and relaxes the muscles.
• Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation: Cases that are inhibited in their mobility have to relearn simple everyday procedures to stay independent. Therefore rehabilitation facilities provide special aids (e.g. grasp aids) and occupational therapists escort the patient through daily procedures and practice the usage of aids. The aim is to stress the joints with as little impact as possible.
• Heat or Cold Therapy: This therapy mainly concentrates on easing pain and relaxing the muscles. One component is the heat therapy. In order to increase the blood circulation in the affected joint, a radiant heat lamp, electric heat pads, baths or other methods are employed But the easiest and most effective way to "heat up" the joints is to take a hot shower or bath for 15 minutes. During acute rheumatic attacks however the Cold therapy is advised, as it takes away the immediate pain and reduces the swelling. The cold shock numbs the pain. Cold packs, ice massages or soaking the joints in cold water makes up the therapy.
• Surgery: A surgery is only seldom necessary. Indications for a surgery can be an inflammatory articular effusion. The liquid has to be removed to decompress the joint by means of a joint punctuation. Surgery is also the answer for disfigured joints or cases of inhibited function. In rare cases artificial joints are implanted.
• Local Therapy: A so called radiation synovectomy is a special form of radiation therapy which targets the internal region of the joint. A weak radioactive liquid is injected into the joint cavity where it disperses and is finally absorbed by the inflammation cells. This causes the death of the inflammation cells. Unfortunately, the therapies success is only visible after approximately six months. However, the patient may already feel a subjective improvement after a couple of weeks.