Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Care
by Leroy Gastering
http://www.arthritisbiz.com
There are different forms of arthritis ~ each painful and
possibly debilitating. Often attributed to those of
advanced age, arthritis can afflict anyone and can develop
for a number of reasons, depending upon the type. Since
this particular disease affects the joints, the agility and
mobility of the patient can be significantly impacted as
it progresses ~ sometimes to the extent of physical
deformity.
The type of arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis is a
disease of the immune system. It most often affects the
hands of the patient. Rheumatoid arthritis causes severe
inflammation of the joints, leading to great pain. In
addition to experiencing great pain, sufferers of this type
of arthritis often exhibit deformity of the hands and
fingers. The patient will lose normal manual function,
since the disease affects both hands at the same time.
In broad terms, arthritis refers to inflammation of the
joints. Where rheumatoid arthritis is concerned, the actual
linings of the joints is what becomes inflamed. This causes
the cartilage in the joints to grow and swell, which over
long term erodes the joints. This is what causes the very
characteristic crippling deformities that occur in the
fingers and hands of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
Though vast numbers of people suffer from all types of
arthritis, those people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
comprise only 1% of the population. This terrible disease
affects women much more frequently than men and there is,
so far, no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. The only
treatment at this point is managing the pain. Doctors can
prescribe various pain relief remedies, depending upon
the patient's medical history, overall profile and other
related factors.
One of the most common treatments is oral medications to
control the swelling and thereby reduce the pain associated
with rheumatoid arthritis. Braces or splints may be
prescribed to provide support to weakened joints and
to remove the excess pressure. If none of these treatments
provide relief, surgery may be performed, especially in the
more serious cases. This will reduce pain and swelling and
improve mobility. The three types of surgery commonly used
are T synovectomy, osteomoty or joint replacement.
When diagnosed early enough, there are many steps that can
be used to reduce pain and the other consequences of this
type of arthritis. So, even though there~s no known cure,
if one experiences pain, swelling, or diminished use of the
hands, one should contact a doctor immediately. A plan can
be outlined to reduce pain, and prepare for future surgery.
No-one should have to live with pain of arthritis, now that
so much progress has been made in the field of pain
management. The first steps in managing the pain may be
as simple as common aspirin or other medications. If they
do not work, a doctor will then prescribe medication that
specifically targets arthritis pain. But before that can
happen,there has to be open communication between the doctor
and the patient regarding the pain early in the treatment.
So, it is not advisable to suffer quietly in this case.
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