What your joints need

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment helps to relieve the signs and symptoms of the disease. Sometimes, it helps to modify the disease process. One goal for treatment is normally to alleviate or relieve the symptoms. The other goal is normally to prevent future destruction of the joints. If this disorder is left untreated, it can make you handicapped. Although pain relievers can help to relive the symptoms, they may not help in dealing with the long term consequences of this disease.

Most doctors recommend that apart from pain relievers, this disorder should also be treated using at least one anti-rheumatic medication. Cortisone therapy has been effective in providing relief in the past but its long term effects have been said to be adverse. Cortisone injections on the other hand have been said to be affective even for long term use. They can be used in combination with any anti-rheumatic treatment.

Pharmacological treatment for this condition will involve the use of Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs or DMARDs, anti-inflammatory and analgesics. DMARDs normally help to reduce the rate of damage to the bone and cartilage. They are also said to produce symptomatic remissions and also delay the progression of the disease.

Alternative rheumatoid arthritis treatments include weight loss, rest, physiotherapy, immunoadsorption therapy and joint injections. Physical activity or regular exercise not only helps to maintain joint mobility but also makes joints stronger. Radon therapy is a popular treatment method in Germany and Eastern Europe. If your joint is severely damaged, you may require surgery for joint replacement. An example is a knee replacement.