Rheumatoid arthritis, otherwise known as RA, is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect several body systems, including your blood vessels, organs, and joints. Today, our experts at RightPath Pain & Spine Centers in Davenport, FL are taking a closer look at RA treatment methods, diagnostic tests, risk factors, and much more.
How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated?
The ideal rheumatoid arthritis treatment method for you depends on several factors, including the symptoms you are experiencing, how severe they are, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences. In some cases, these symptoms can be treated safely and effectively with over-the-counter NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). In other cases, prescription NSAIDs are necessary for relief.
Exosome therapy is another treatment method that may be effective. If you’ve tried over-the-counter medications in the past with no or little effect, you may be a good candidate for exosome therapy. To find out for sure, though, you’ll need to attend an initial consultation with a pain specialist to discuss your symptoms, current treatment methods, and lifestyle.
Can Supplements Improve My Symptoms?
There are preliminary studies that suggest fish oil supplements can reduce pain and stiffness caused by RA. Similarly, there are studies that suggest plant oils can reduce morning stiffness and pain caused by RA. Examples of plants that may help with RA symptoms include black currant, borage, and evening primrose.
Are There Exercises That Can Improve My Symptoms?
There is a possibility that certain exercises will improve some of your RA symptoms. For example, you may feel less pain and stiffness in the morning if you go for a short walk when you wake up. Going for a quick walk can also help to ease your symptoms if you experience more pain and stiffness after being sedentary for an hour or two.
As another example, some people report that a relaxing tai chi session eased pain significantly. Just make sure you listen to your body if you opt for tai chi to ease your symptoms. Depending on the regions of your body that your RA affects, some tai chi moves should be avoided.
What Can I Do To Make My Life Easier?
If RA is making life difficult, there are a number of steps you and your loved ones can take to make life easier for you until we find a treatment plan that works for you. One of the best things you can do to make your life more manageable is to reach out to your loved ones. Explain to your partner that some things cause you pain or exhaustion, and you need them to take on that responsibility until you get better.
You can also improve your quality of life significantly by taking a short nap whenever you feel extremely fatigued. If you feel fatigued shortly before bedtime, go to bed early. If your to-do list is incomplete, you can work on it again when you’re feeling more rested or ask a friend or family member to help you. Also, take time for relaxing activities, like journaling or listening to meditative music. Stress can exacerbate RA symptoms.
How Is This Condition Diagnosed?
It can be hard to diagnose this condition, especially when it is in the early stages, because the symptoms are so similar to the symptoms of other diseases. Since there’s no blood test that is guaranteed to provide an accurate diagnosis, this condition is diagnosed through several methods, including imaging tests and a thorough physical exam.
During your physical exam, we will look for warmth, redness, or swelling around your joints. Depending on the results of the examination, we will also test your muscle strength and reflexes. Imaging tests that can be used to confirm an RA diagnosis include magnetic resonance imaging tests, X-rays, and ultrasound tests.
What Are the Symptoms of This Condition?
Some of the most common signs of this condition are tender, swollen or warm joints, moderate or severe joint stiffness, and fever. However, since this condition can affect so many bodily systems, there are a number of symptoms that you may suffer from. You should also be aware that your symptoms may change over time because the condition tends to progress, affecting more symptoms as it goes untreated.
When rheumatoid arthritis is in its earliest stages, you may only notice swelling, discomfort, and pain in your small joints, like your finger and toe joints. However, if it goes untreated for long enough, you may notice it affecting such joints as your shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, wrists, and elbows. Typically, symptoms are symmetrical. If you only have joint pain on one side of your body, you may not have RA.
What Parts of the Body Can Be Affected in the Later Stages of This Condition?
To reiterate, RA can affect a lot more than your joints. Approximately four out of every 10 people who suffer from this condition also have problems with their organs, like itchy skin, dry eyes, kidney pain, and lung problems. Other parts of the body that can be affected include the:
- Salivary glands
- Bone marrow
- Blood vessels
- Heart
- Nerve tissue
What Are the Risk Factors for Developing This Condition?
Sex is one of the most significant risk factors for developing this condition. While it is not yet clear why, women are far more likely to develop this condition than men. Age is another very significant risk factor. If you are at least middle age, you are more likely to develop this condition than you were when you were younger. Family history is yet another very significant risk factor. If your immediate family members, like parents or siblings, have RA, you’re more likely to get it.
Fortunately, there are risk factors of developing this condition that you can mitigate. For example, you can decrease your chance of developing this condition by losing weight if you are currently overweight. As another example, you can stop smoking if you are currently a smoker. Refraining from nicotine consumption is even more effective for RA risk reduction if you are genetically predisposed to it, and quitting smoking can also reduce symptoms if you have it.
When Should I See a Doctor?
You should schedule an appointment with a pain expert if you experience persistent discomfort that worsens after long periods of being sedentary and improves after gentle activity. This is the most common sign of RA, and there are serious complications that can occur if it goes untreated for too long. For example, since RA can affect so many symptoms, your risk of developing the following conditions is increased significantly:
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid nodules
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Infections
- Abnormal body composition
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Heart problems
- Lung disease
- Lymphoma
How Should I Prepare for My Appointment?
The first thing you should do when preparing for your appointment is to make a thorough list of all of your symptoms even if you don’t think they’re relevant. Take notes on when your symptoms occur, what exacerbates them, and what, if anything, eases them. Also, try to remember when you first started to notice each symptom. You should also ask your parents and siblings if they are experiencing similar symptoms or have been diagnosed with RA.
What Questions Will I Be Asked During My Appointment?
There are a number of questions we may ask you to determine whether you suffer from RA. For instance, we will ask you when your symptoms started and whether they have changed over time. It is important to know how your symptoms have been evolving if they are changing because this condition typically affects more systems as it progresses. The progression of your symptoms will go a long way in helping us diagnose your condition accurately.
We will also ask you what joints, if any, are affected by your illness. Furthermore, we need to know whether certain activities improve or exacerbate your symptoms. Finally, you should expect us to ask you whether your symptoms are preventing you from completing some of your daily routine on your own.
Get in Touch and Get the Help You Need
There are several ways rheumatoid arthritis can be treated based on your unique case. In some cases, lifestyle modification is sufficient for the treatment of symptoms. In other cases, exosome therapy or other medical intervention is necessary. If you believe you suffer from RA, we can help. Contact us today at RightPath Pain & Spine Centers in Davenport, FL to schedule your initial consultation.