Are you experiencing pain in your joints? If yes, these might be the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common autoimmune condition that affects your joints and causes inflammation. It has no cure, but noticing RA symptoms earlier allows for managing this condition with proper treatment and prevents severe complications. Learn about rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and treatment options in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org. to schedule an appointment with us.

Treatment

When treating RA, the main aim of the treatment is:

• Stop or reduce inflammation as much as possible.
• Relieve symptoms.
• Prevent joint and organ damage.
• Improve functionality and overall well-being.
• Reduce long-term complications.

Treatment involves medications, therapies, surgeries, complementary therapies, and lifestyle changes.

1. Medications:

Medications are based on your symptoms and how long you have had RA. The most common medications are:

• DMARDs:

When you’re diagnosed with RA, a doctor may prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in combination with other medications for initial treatment. These medications can ease your symptoms and slow the progression of the condition. It blocks the effects of the chemicals released when your immune system attacks your joints, which otherwise further damage the nearby bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. The most common DMARDs that may be used are:

• Methotrexate
• Leflunomide
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Sulfasalazine

Methotrexate is usually the first choice for RA, often along with a short course of steroids to relieve the pain. Sometimes it is used in combination with biological treatments. Make sure you take this medicine as prescribed because it can cause side effects such as:

• Feeling sick
• Appetite loss
• Sore mouth
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Hair loss

As this medicine affects blood cells and the liver, regular blood tests are recommended to monitor this. It takes a few months to notice if a DMARD is working properly. So, if you notice that the medicine is not working, you should inform the doctor. You may need to try 2 to 3 types of DMARDs to find the most suitable for you. Once you have found the most effective DMARD, you can take it long-term.

• Biological treatments:

This is a newer form of medication used when DMARD alone is not effective. It can stop particular chemicals in your blood from activating your immune system to attack your joints. It is also taken in the form of injections, besides the oral route. The common ones are – adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, etc. It also causes side effects which are usually mild, such as:

• Infections.
• Feeling sick.
• A high temperature.
• Headaches.
• Skin reactions at the injection site.

However, some people are at risk of developing serious problems like reactivation of infections such as tuberculosis (TB) if they have had it in the past.

• JAK (Janus kinases) inhibitors:

This is a new type of medicine used for moderate to severe RA. It is prescribed to people who can’t use DMARDs or biologicals or have found them ineffective. It is used in combination with methotrexate, but it is also used alone.

• NSAIDs:

These medicines are prescribed to manage your pain. It includes ibuprofen, naproxen, or diclofenac, or some specific type like celecoxib or etoricoxib. It will relieve pain along with lowering inflammation in the joint; however, it doesn’t stop RA from getting worse over time. You should discuss with your doctor what type of NSAID you should consider, as they also have benefits and risks linked with them. In some cases, it may put people at serious risk of stomach problems like internal bleeding.

• Steroids:

These are powerful medicines used to manage RA flare-up symptoms. It can be available in the form of oral medication or injections. Injections can be administered directly into a painful joint or the surrounding muscles to relieve pain in many joints. They are recommended for short-term pain relief because long-term use can lead to serious side effects, such as:

• Weight gain
• Easy bruising
• Thinning of the skin
• Muscle weakness
• Osteoporosis

• Therapies:

Your doctor may refer you to a therapist for therapies that may help you with RA symptoms.

• Physiotherapy:

In this therapy, a physiotherapist will tailor an exercise program that focuses on improving your fitness and muscle strength, and makes your joints more flexible. Your exercises are monitored by the physiotherapist until you learn how to perform them properly, and then you can perform them yourself at home. A physiotherapist also recommends using heat or cold therapy, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). A TENS machine uses a small pulse of electricity on the affected joint to numb the nerve endings, blocking the pain from reaching the brain, thus easing the pain.

• Occupational therapy:

This therapy helps you deal with problems with everyday tasks. An occupational therapist will provide training and advice on how to protect your joints when you’re at home and at work.

You can use assistive devices like splints that help you open jars or turn on taps. Consider using a kitchen knife with a hand grip to protect your finger and wrist joints. Certain tools, like buttonhooks, can also be used to get dressed easily.

• Surgeries:

If medications and therapies don’t relieve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery. The type of surgery used depends on the joints affected. It helps to ease your pain and restore functionality. For example:

• Carpal tunnel release: This surgery is used to relieve symptoms of RA by cutting a ligament in the wrist to relieve pressure on a nerve, providing pain relief. To perform this surgery, the surgeon gives you anesthesia and makes an incision on your palm and, with the help of a small camera on a surgical instrument, they cut the ligament and stitch the incision. Sometimes, the surgeon uses an ultrasound to guide the surgical instrument to cut the ligament.
• Arthroscopy: This procedure is used to remove inflamed joint tissue. During this surgery, a surgeon gives you anesthesia, makes an incision, and inserts a thin tube with a light and camera attached to it into the affected joint. Then, special instruments are inserted through other small cuts to remove the damaged tissue, and then they stitch the incisions.
• Joint replacement: This surgery is used when some people with RA need to have their joints replaced or some part of the joint removed. The joints are mostly from the hip, knee, or shoulder. During the procedure, the surgeon gives you anesthesia and makes an incision on the damaged joint. With the help of specialized tools, the surgeon removes the damaged joint or cartilage and inserts a prosthetic joint or cartilage, which is made of plastic, metal, or ceramic, and is implanted with the help of surgical cement, to allow it to grow into the implant. It relieves pain and restores functionality.

The recovery time can vary depending on the type of surgery. But for better outcomes, you need to ensure you follow the instructions as directed.

• Complementary therapies:

Certain complementary therapies are worth considering along with traditional treatment to better manage symptoms of RA, such as:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Massage
• Osteopathy

In most cases, there’s little evidence that these therapies are effective in the long term, but they can be useful for short-term relief.

• Lifestyle changes:

Some self-care measures can help you manage your symptoms along with traditional treatment.

• Exercise regularly: Gentle exercise at home can help you strengthen the muscles around the joints. It also helps you feel less tired. However, you should consult your healthcare team about what exercises you can and cannot do. Avoid exercising when joints are tender, injured, or inflamed.
• Apply heat or cold: Heat can help you ease your pain and relax tense muscles, whereas cold can reduce swelling and relieve inflammation. Use them alternately to relieve your symptoms.
• Relax: Take your time to cope with pain by reducing your stress. Techniques like guided imagery, deep breathing, and muscle relaxation can help you manage pain.
• Quit smoking: Smoking can make your RA symptoms worse by reducing the amount of oxygen to the joints. So, if you smoke, you should ask your healthcare team to help you quit.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive degenerative disease that occurs when an autoimmune response affects your joints and causes inflammation. Pain in the joint is the main symptom in the early stages, but later it can affect different organs and cause other symptoms as well. That’s why early detection is crucial to managing this condition with proper treatment. Seek medical help when you start noticing pain in your joints, especially in your wrists, palms, or feet.

Need help with rheumatoid arthritis? Visit our pain management clinic in Bushwick to get professional medical help. Call now to book your appointment today because waiting will only make your condition worse!!!!

If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on + 1-718-367-2555 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.