How Rheumatoid Arthritis is a Life Long Struggle

There is no shortage of rheumatoid arthritis treatments. A great many researchers are working on ways to relieve the pain, disfigurement and discomfort of RA. But doctors say there is no cure! However, there is hope.

In recent years, researchers have developed a number of treatments that make life easier for the RA patient. The goal is to provide as normal a life as possible for the sufferer with the lowest level of discomfort, disfigurement and interruption of a normal life.

Until a cure is found, doctors find themselves minimizing joint damage, disfigurement and pain while enhancing the patient's ability to engage in enjoy a quality lifestyle. Doctors have also learned that it's far easier for the patient if families and loved ones understand what is happening - that is, the nature of RA.

So, what can actually be done? Three classes of drugs are usually utilized for rheumatoid arthritis treatments:

1) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (or NSAIDs),

2) disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (or DMARDs) and.

3) corticosteroids.

The major benefit of NSAIDs is to relieve inflammation. That decreases pain and improves function. However, NSAIDs alone can't change the course of the disease nor prevent destruction of the affected joints.

For years, aspirin was the primary treatment - and still relieves pain quite effectively. However, it often causes stomach discomfort and has to be taken repeatedly during the day. Thus, many doctors have replaced it with other NSAIDs.

Fortunately, there are quite a few to choose from.

Over-the-counter NSAIDs include naproxen sodium (such as Aleve簧) and ibuprofen (such as Advil簧, Motrin簧 and Nuprin簧.

Prescription NSAIDs include choline magnesium salicylate (Trilasate簧), diclofenac (Cataflam簧, Voltaren簧, Arthrotec簧), diflusinal (Dolobid簧), etodolac (Lodine簧), indomethicin (Indocin簧), ketoprofen (Orudis簧, Oruvail簧), meloxicam (Mobic簧), nabumetone (Relafen簧), oxaprozin (Daypro簧), piroxicam (Feldene簧), sulindac (Clinoril簧) and tolementin (Tolectin簧).

Many patients prefer naproxen sodium since it can be taken once every 12 hours - rather than four times a day as with some of the others.

NSAIDs provide quick but short-term help.

DMARDs can take several weeks or months. Among those most commonly used are abatacept (Orencia簧), adalimumab (Humira簧), anakinra (Kineret簧), antimalarials, azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide cyclosporin A, d-penicillamine, etanercept (Enbrel簧), gold salts, infliximab (Remicade簧), leflunomide (Arava簧), methotrexate, rituximab (Rituxan簧) and sulfasalazine.

Most are very effective in preventing cartilage damage and the bone erosions that can come as early as during the first two years of the disease. As a result, many doctors prescribe a DMARD as soon as RA is diagnosed.

But since DMARDs can be so slow acting, aspirin and other analgesics are also taken since they are so effective in decreasing pain - but not in stopping the disease's progression.

So, NSAIDs are taken to ease discomfort, particularly until DMARDs take effect.

Corticosteroids are the third category of drugs used with RA. These are often prescribed for patients with severe cases who aren't responding to NSAIDs or DMARDs. However, there are side effects such as weight gain, puffiness around the face, redness of the cheeks, and even such oddities as the development of a "buffalo hump" over the neck.

Any rheumatoid arthritis sufferer is wise to stay current of new developments - and to ask their doctor whether this or that "wonder treatment" on the internet actually works.