Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

• The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has many symptoms of the affliction that it must deal with. Joint pain and swelling are the most significant, but those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis can have joints that are tender just to touch. Hands can become puffy and attain a reddish color with bumps of tissue beneath the skin on the arms. People with rheumatoid arthritis can be easily fatigued and usually are the most stiff in the morning when they first wake up. Fevers are possible, and weight loss can even be a symptom of the problem. These symptoms can "flare up" or become much worse than normal, only to completely disappear for a period of time.
  
  

Steroids and NSAIDs

• Corticosteroids are used to lessen the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs such as prednisone are commonly employed against the condition, and they can work quite well over a short span of time. Continued use of steroids, though, can lead to such serious troubles as bone loss, cataracts, and diabetes. Therefore, steroids are not used over the long haul to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but rather to provide quick relief from painful symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly referred to as NSAIDs, can also deal with pain and reduce the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. Medications such as Advil and Motrin, which are sold over-the-counter, and prescription strength forms of these same drugs are often used to ease pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis patients. High dosages, though, do come with such potential dangers as liver and kidney disease and stomach bleeding.
  
  

Orencia and Rituximab

• Orencia is a drug that works by affecting T cells, a kind of white blood cell that is part of the immune system that attacks healthy tissue and joints in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. Orencia is given intravenously monthly and can help with inflammation and pain but the side effects include nausea, headaches, and the possibility of infections. Rituximab is able to reduce the amount of B cells in a person with rheumatoid arthritis. B cells cause inflammation, but Rituximab can short-circuit these cells. It also is an infusion drug given intravenously, and it too has strong side effects, such as fever and chills.
  
  

Immunosuppressants and DMARDS

• Immunosuppressants attempt to control a person's immune system and thereby lessen the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Arava, Cytoxan, and Imuran are three types of immunosuppressants that have proven effective against rheumatoid arthritis, but any drug of this nature can weaken an individual's defenses and allow infections to take over more easily. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are called DMARDs, and they are utilized in the initial stages of rheumatoid arthritis. DMARDs will try to slow the progress of the disease and protect joints from the type of permanent damage that rheumatoid arthritis can cause. Drugs such as Ridaura and Minocin are classified as DMARDs, and they need to be taken for a long period of time before any appreciable benefits will appear.
  
  

Surgery

• The deformities and pain that are brought about by severe rheumatoid arthritis can be dealt with through surgery in some cases, when medications don't do the trick. A total joint replacement can be one option, while tendons can sometimes be repaired as well. Tendons can become loose around a joint, but surgery can often fix this problem. The joint lining that is attacked by the immune system by rheumatoid arthritis can actually be taken out in an operation known as a synovectomy.