There is no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis as of yet, just as there is currently no cure for any other autoimmune disease.
Even though health professionals cannot cure the condition, there are many things a specialist together with a patient can do to ease the painful symptoms.
The most common forms of treatment are applied to slow the physical damage, monitor the progress, and relieve the pain.
Exercise is not a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, although getting enough exercise may extend the length of time between flare-ups.
A patient must find a good balance between getting enough exercise when the disease is inactive, to getting enough rest when the disease is active.
Sufficient exercise during periods of the disease's inactivity can reduce flare-ups.
Both common types of Arthritis feature pain.
Treating the pain still does not cure Rheumatoid Arthritis, but taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medication can help a patient manage the disease and help to continue normal day-to-day activities.
While the search for a cure for rheumatoid arthritis continues, the disease can continue to damage joints and other body tissue as the condition progresses.
Primary care physicians can monitor deterioration and make recommendations for surgery.
If surgery becomes needed, there are a number of options a doctor might consider.
Joint replacement only occurs in the most dire circumstances.
Tendon replacement and fusion is more common.
Syonovectomy is generally now performed as part of tendon reconstruction surgery.
Drugs do not provide a real cure either.
Over-the-counter pain relievers are the most common used, although a doctor might prescribe corticosteroids to help control inflammation.
As long as a patient remains active and follows the instructions of his doctor, he can remain active and fit far longer than he could even twenty years ago.
Continued research into autoimmune disorders may one day help medical science find a cure for Rheumatoid Arthtritis.