Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments

When talking about rheumatoid arthritis treatments, this can become somewhat tricky in that this type of arthritis comes to individuals in a unique way to many.  Because of this, actual treatment is best suited for each and every individual in a unique matter.  Though before setting up treatments, it's best to take into consideration things such as how long the arthritis has been active, how severe, and other medical conditions. 

Some of the current rheumatoid arthritis treatments are more on improving functioning, slowing down or stopping joint damage, relieving inflammation, and reducing pain.  These types of treatments are best and most effective when the disease or arthritis is caught in early stage or early diagnosis.  This should help your doctor in finding the best and most ideal treatments for you to still live a healthy and happy lifestyle.

One great thing about medicines, is that they continue to improve through time.  Many doctors just several years ago would probably prescribe only an over-the-counter pain reliever.  The doctors have now learned that it's best to be more aggressive in treatments especially in the early stages.  So now you will find more doctors prescribing more and stronger medications, and this medication continues to improve.

Before you start treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, it's best that you find a good health care team.  The first thing to make sure you're looking for the right type of doctor and it's suggested to look into finding a  rheumatologist (ROO-ma-tall-o-jist), this is a physician specializing in arthritis, bone diseases, muscle and joints. While it's also suggested to add a nurse,  physical therapist, occupational therapist, an orthopaedic surgeon, and a psychiatrist. It may even be best to go ahead and get a psychologist and a social worker in joining your health care team as well.

Now for the actual medications that your health care team could put you on are as follows:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)– These drugs are used to reduce inflammation and  pain. These will be medications such as ibuprofen, indomethacin, aspirin and COX-2 inhibitors.
• Analgesic Drugs– These are the drugs that will reduce the patients pain, but have nothing dealing with inflammation. Some examples and drug names are  morphine, acetaminophen, mepeidine, and propoxyphene.
• Glucocorticoids or Prednisone – This medication will help slow down  the joint damage which is caused by inflammation.
• Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)– These are used with NSAIDs and/or prednisone to slow joint destruction caused by RA over time. Some examples of these drugs are azathioprine, methotrexate, injectable and oral gold, penicillamine,  chloroquine, sulfasalazine.
• Biologic Response Modifiers– These drugs deal mostly with changes of the immune system by allowing proteins by the name of cytokines, which can add  to inflammation. Examples drugs of this type are adaliumumab, anakinra, etanercept, and infliximab.
• Protein-A Immunoadsorption Therapy- This  type of therapy filters your blood which will help filter and remove some unhealthy immune and antibodies  molecules which assist in promoting inflammation.