Rheumatoid Arthritis

One persistent inflammatory joint disease is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis patients experience a progressive, inflammatory synovitis that leads to the joint, surrounding tissues, and articular cartilage being destroyed. Although its exact cause is uncertain, immune-mediated damage is most likely the cause of rheumatoid arthritis.

Note: Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease.

Common symptoms of RA Include:

1-Joint pain on waking up in the morning and improves progressively with activity.

2-Morning stiffness last for several hours then subside.

3-Fatigue(feeling tired or lack of energy).

4-Movement limitation at joints.

5-Swelling

6-Warmthnes

7-Deformities occur in the later stage

Laboratory test for RA;

1-Rheumatoid Factor(+)

2-Erythrocyte sedimentation (inc.)

3-C-reactive protein(+)

4-X-ray

Treatment Options:

                  A- Pharmacological treatment;

                                        1-Paracetamol and NSAIDs

                                        2-DMARDs

                                        3-Immunosuppresive therapy if DMARDs are failed

                                        4-Corticosteroids injection

                       New Therapy;

                                       1-JAK inhibitors

                                       2-Tumor Necrosis Factor(TNF) Inhibitors

                  B- Surgical treatment:

                                       (tens-synovectomy

                                        radio synovectomy 

                                        arthroscopy              

                                        osteotomy

                                        joint fusion, metatarsal head excision arthroplasties or total joint replacement )

                 C-Phyisotherapy:

                                      1-Massage 

                                      2-Positioning

                                      3-Hot and cold therapy 

                                      4- Acupuncture

                                      5-Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation 

                                      6-Progressive muscle relaxation