Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Treatment¹⁶ for rheumatoid arthritis may involve a multi-faceted strategy based on the severity of the condition, how far it has progressed, and what parts of the body it is affecting. Generally, treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation and managing pain and discomfort.

Most rheumatoid arthritis treatment strategies involve taking at least one medication. Some medications used for rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs: These function to reduce the inflammation that causes damage throughout the body.
• Steroids: These lower inflammation and help slow damage to joints.
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): These medications can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. However, they have a number of serious potential side effects, including liver damage, suppression of bone marrow, and lung infection.
• Biologic agents: These are newer versions of traditional DMARDs. They help keep inflammation down in the joints. Biological agents can also have severe side effects, including blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolisms).

Rheumatoid arthritis medication

Your provider may prescribe the following medications for rheumatoid arthritis:

In addition to medication, many healthcare providers recommend using other treatment strategies to help keep patients out of pain and repair damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. These options¹⁷ include:

• Physical therapy: Physical therapists trained to work with rheumatoid arthritis patients can show them how to move and perform daily tasks in ways that lessen the amount of stress exerted on their joints. Physical therapy can also help patients manage pain and learn how to stay active and get exercise without damaging their joints.
• Surgery: When rheumatoid arthritis changes the structure of a joint, surgery may be the best way to return the joint to normal or mitigate the effects of the condition.

Rheumatoid arthritis diet

While there is no one diet that has been scientifically proven to help with rheumatoid arthritis, many people affected by the condition say that they feel better when they eat a diet low in inflammatory foods.

Some patients claim that certain diets help them feel better. These include¹⁸:

• The Mediterranean diet
• The paleo diet
• A gluten-free diet

However, it is not essential to follow a particular diet in order to avoid inflammatory foods. The following tips can help rheumatoid arthritis patients eat well for their condition without having to follow strict dietary rules:

• Focus on eating as many fruits and vegetables as possible
• Avoid processed meats and foods with chemical additives or preservatives
• Lower consumption of refined sugars
• Choose whole grains, beans, and legumes over processed or “white” breads and pastas
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Eat a variety of healthy foods

If these dietary changes do not help your rheumatoid arthritis, it may be worth consulting a medical or dietary professional to determine whether other dietary changes might help you feel better.