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MediFocus Guides Help Answer Key Questions about Rheumatoid Arthritis:
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What are the standard treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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What are your treatment options?
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Are there any promising new and effective treatments on the horizon?
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Where can you find the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers with specialized interest and expertise in Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Which organizations and support groups can help you cope more effectively with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
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Medifocus Guidebook:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Updated: November 2, 2008
122 Pages
- Comprehensive overview of
Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Explore your treatment options
- Learn about new developments
- Read medical journal abstracts
- Find doctors, hospitals, research centers
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the synovial membrane - the thin layer of connective tissue that lines the joints. If left untreated, chronic inflammation of the joints can lead to joint damage, deformity, and loss of function. The primary symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include painful, swollen joints usually accompanied by morning stiffness lasting for 1 hour or longer.
Because damage to the joints occurs early in the course of rheumatoid arthritis, early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for halting progression of the disease and preserving functional ability. Although rheumatoid arthritis is a life-long illness for which currently there is no known cure, early and aggressive treatment can help to slow down the disease progression and prevent disability.
It should come as no surprise to anyone who suffers from this condition to learn that rheumatoid arthritis can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. Joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness, fatigue impaired mobility, and loss of independence present difficult challenges involving almost every aspect of life including:
- Activities of daily living
- Job-related tasks and functions
- Recreational activities
- Self-care
- Personal hygiene
- Social interactions with family and friends
- Psychological and emotional wellbeing
In general, there are four major categories of drugs that are used for the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Corticosteroids
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Selective costimulation modulators
Supportive therapies for rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Exercises - passive range-of-motion; isometric; hydrotherapy
- Thermotherapy - application of superficial moist heat or ice packs
- Splints/Orthoses - wrist supports; finger splints; special shoes and shoe insoles
- Therapeutic ulrasound - the use of sound waves applied to an area of the body to reduce inflammation, pain, and tenderness
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - the use of electrical stimulation to block the sensation of pain from reaching the brain.
The MediFocus Guidebook on Rheumatoid Arthritis contains information that is vital to anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition.
You will learn about the causes, risk factors, common signs and symptoms, medical tests that are used to establish the diagnosis, and standard treatments. You will also learn about the latest clinical advances in the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as about the newest treatment options that are available.
The MediFocus Guidebook on Rheumatoid Arthritis will also inform you about important new, exciting research in the area of Rheumatoid Arthritis. You will also learn about the doctors, hospitals, and medical centers that are at the leading edge in conducting clinical research about Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Information about clinical trials, quality of life issues, a list of questions to ask your doctor, and a useful directory of organizations and support groups that can help patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis complete this valuable Guidebook.
You won't find this combination of information anywhere else. It is easily accessible right here. We invite you to preview the MediFocus Guidebook on Rheumatoid Arthritis so that you can decide if this comprehensive, trustworthy information may help you or someone you care about who has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
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