Treatment of RA

Treatment:

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but there are medications that can help lessen the effect of the disease There are five main different types of medications:

1. analgesic drugs- relieve pain but do not necessarily reduce inflammation
• Example: acetaminophen
2. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)-reduce inflammation and relieve pain
• Example: aspirin and ibuprofen
3. corticosteroids-slow joint damage done by inflammation (usually given in low doses)
4. disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)- can be used with NSAIDs to slow joint damage
• Example: Methotrextrate (most common drug used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis)
5. Biologic DMARDs-reduces the symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis through an injection
• Example: Humira

*Important to note that all of these drugs can have serious side effects

Other treatments include: physical therapy and a proper nutritious diet. In addition if rheumatoid arthritis severely damages joints it may lead to surgery. Either by removing the lining of the joint called, synovectomy or by having a total joint replacement.