Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis can be difficult since it is a disease in which the immune system actually attacks certain joints in the body, rather than function normally by attacking foreign bacteria or viruses. Rheumatoid Arthritis pain occurs mostly around the joints of the hands and feet, however it can also spread to the wrists, elbows, and knees. It can be serious for many people who must learn how to manage Rheumatoid Arthritis pain and discomfort.

There is no truly known reason as to what causes this type of disease, but some doctors think that it might be due to a virus that affects the Synovium of the Immune System. In such cases as this, an inflammatory reaction can cause destruction in all of the nerves within a particular joint. The symptoms of this disease come and go depending upon how severely damaged these nerves are.

However, if there is no inflammation occurring then the Arthritis is in a dormant state, but if the joints are inflamed then of course, the disease is very active with recurring remission periods. When the RA is active, symptoms can include:

-Fatigue

-A loss of energy

-Lack of appetite

-Low fever

-Muscle and joint aches and stiffness (With the muscle and joint stiffness being the most severe in the morning as well as after prolonged periods of inactivity).

Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis effectively depends on using the right treatments for each patient. Treatments for this disease are as diverse as the symptoms of the patients themselves. For example, the pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis can be maintained with over-the-counter drugs such as Aleve, or Tylenol and prescription treatments, like steroids. There is also the reduction of joint stress through different kinds of therapy, and surgical procedures that can be performed as well.

Although, it is understood that a lot of patients may not be able to afford many different methods for helpful treatments of their Arthritis. In those cases, there are a number of other options available, which are more practical and less expensive. For joint pain, some patients can purchase certain creams such as Ben-Gay, or Capsacin to shrink the inflamed joints and ease pain. Some people find they can control periods in their Arthritis inflammation by eliminating as much stress in their lives as possible. There are also some herbal remedies that patients can consider using such as Boswellia, Equisetum, or (horsetail), Devil's Claw, or Borage Seed Oil.

Lastly, while some of these methods have been officially proven successful for treating the symptoms of RA, there are patients who use alternative methods for relieving their pain. These include acupuncture, message, mineral baths, meditation, and hypnosis. All of these treatments for managing Rheumatoid Arthritis have been tried by many patients and have been shown to help to some degree.