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Know about symptoms and treatments for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that tends to develop slowly while showing minor symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the immune system to attack healthy cells in the body which can cause inflammation in the joints and other parts of the body. The symptoms of this disorder can vary from one individual to person; moreover, the severity of these symptoms can also differ with each passing day. Some of the common symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis include the following:

Limping
Fatigue
Swollen joints
Fever
Stiff joints
Joint redness
Anemia
Tender joints
Loss of range of motion
Deformity of the joints
Warmth in the joints
Polyarthritis

Treatments
The type of medications recommended by the doctor would depend on the severity of the symptoms experienced and how long the person has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the commonly recommended medications for rheumatoid arthritis have been listed below.

NSAIDs – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are medications that are meant to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Some of the NSAIDs commonly recommended for rheumatoid arthritis include naproxen and ibuprofen. These must be consumed as per the recommended dosage otherwise it could result in side effects such as heart problems, ringing in the ears, stomach irritations, and liver and kidney damage.
DMARDs – This would slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and saves the joints and other tissues from permanent damage. The side effects could include bone marrow suppression, liver damage, and even severe lung infections. Some of the common DMARDs include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, sulfasalazine.
Steroids – Medicines such as prednisone would help reduce inflammation and pain and even slow joint damage. Some of the side effects would include weight gain, diabetes, thinning of bones, etc.
Biologic agents – These are also known as biologic response modifiers. These include abatacept, anakinra, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, rituximab, golimumab, etanercept, infliximab, tocilizumab, and tofacitinib. These drugs target the affected part of the immune system that triggers inflammation which in turn causes joint and tissue damage.

Therapy
Your doctor may ask you to consult an occupational or physical therapist who would teach a few exercises that would help keep your joints flexible. The therapist would also suggest new ways to do daily tasks such as picking up an object using your forearms if your fingers are sore. Few assistive devices would also make it easier to avoid stressing your painful joints. For example, a kitchen knife that is equipped with a saw handle would help to protect your finger and wrist joints.

Surgery
If medications fail to treat and relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, the doctor may consider surgery to repair the damaged joints. Surgery would help to restore your ability to use your joints to perform daily tasks efficiently. This would also reduce pain and correct deformities. Surgery may include procedures such as the following:

Synovectomy
Tendon repair
Joint fusion
Total joint replacement

Surgeries would carry the risk of infection, bleeding, and pain. It is always good to discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor beforehand.

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