How is Arthritis treated?
Doctors use a variety of approaches to treat rheumatoid arthritis. These are used in different combinations and at different times during the course of the Arthritis disease and are chosen according to the patient's individual situation. No matter what Arthritis treatment the doctor and patient choose, however, the goals are the same: to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, slow down or stop joint damage, and improve the person's sense of well-being and ability to function.
Good communication between the patient and doctor is necessary for effective Arthritis treatment. Talking to the doctor can help ensure that exercise and Arthritis pain management programs are provided as needed, and that Arthritis drugs are prescribed appropriately. Talking to the doctor can also help people who are making decisions about Arthritis surgery.
Goals of Arthritis Treatment
- Relieve pain
- Reduce inflammation
- Slow down or stop joint damage
- Improve a person's sense of well-being and ability to function
Current Arthritis Treatment Approaches
- Lifestyle
- Arthritis Medications
- Arthritis Surgery
- Routine monitoring and ongoing care
Diagnosing and Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Diagnosing and treating rheumatoid arthritis requires a team effort involving the patient and several types of health care professionals. A person can go to his or her family doctor or internist or to a rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in arthritis and other diseases of the joints, bones, and muscles. As treatment progresses, other professionals often help. These may include nurses, physical or occupational therapists, orthopaedic surgeons, psychologists, and social workers.
Studies have shown that patients who are well informed and participate actively in their own care have less pain and make fewer visits to the doctor than do other patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Patient education and arthritis self-management programs, as well as support groups, help people to become better informed and to participate in their own care. An example of a self-management program is the Arthritis Self-Help Course offered by the Arthritis Foundation and developed at a NIAMS-supported Multipurpose Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases Center. (See the Arthritis Foundation listing in "For More Information.") Self-management programs teach about rheumatoid arthritis and its treatments, exercise and relaxation approaches, communication between patients and health care providers, and problem solving.
