A person having rheumatoid arthritis has severe joint pain. Over a period of time the condition can lead to erosion of bones causing deformities. It’s a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the joints and other organs. The condition can cause damage to the tissues and raises a serious risk of heart-related problems. It can lead to heart disease or other serious conditions. In some people, the symptoms are not noticed but the signs of the disease, resemble those of common health issues. Hence it is recommended to go for a proper diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and start the treatment as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis can be very difficult to realize in its early stages of development because the early signs may be mistaken for other illnesses. There is no blood test that can realize and confirm the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. During the physical examination for determining rheumatoid arthritis, the doctors check the joints for swelling, warmth or redness. They also tend to check your reflexes and gauge the muscle strength.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also be diagnosed through blood tests or imaging tests. Since people with rheumatoid arthritis have elevated levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate commonly known as ESR, it can easily indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but with recent discoveries, it indicates that re-emission of symptoms are likely to foresee when the treatments start with stronger medication. It is also known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

The different medications that are recommended by the doctor will depend on severity of the symptoms exhibited by the patient. It also depends largely on how long a person has had the symptoms.

• NSAIDs – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are helpful in relieving the pain and reducing the inflammation.
• A disease-modifying antirheumatic drug commonly known as DMARDs slows down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and saves the joints and other body tissues from permanent damage.
• Biologic agents such as Orencia, Humira, Kineret, Cimzia, Enbrel, Simponi, Remicade, Rituxan, Actemra, Xeljanz, etc are the medications that target the immune system of the body that causes inflammation which causes tissue damage and pain. This type of medication increases the risks of infections.

The medications are given to control joint pain and ensure that the body’s immune system works effectively. If such medications fail, the doctor may suggest surgery that can repair the damaged joints. The surgery may restore the ability of a person to use the joints. It can also be helpful in reducing the pain and correcting any deformities. Surgery involves procedures such as Synovectomy, tendon repairs, joint fusion and total joint replacement. The rheumatoid arthritis surgery involves the risk of infection, pain, and bleeding. A doctor is the best person to know how far the symptoms have progressed and thus what the solution is. The best way to avoid such ailments is to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

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