Today over one million Americans are affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA); this figure includes 200,00 children who suffer from juvenile RA. There is a wealth of rheumatoid arthritis information available to educate individuals about this disease and about RA treatments.
have determined that individuals who are between twenty to fifty years of age suffer from this disease; however it is known to affect older adults as well. RA affects women three times more than men. Specifically, RA affects the joints in the cervical spine (neck area). The joint in this area that RA most frequently impacts is the odontoid process in the upper cervical spine. The odontoid travels from the second cervical vertebrate upwards in a tooth-like structure.
There are both surgical and non-invasive RA treatments available to patients. Rheumatoid arthritis treatments are intended to control progression of the disease, help reduce pain symptomatic of RA, sustain physical function and capacity, and to achieve a enhanced quality of life. RA treatment is specific to the individual and can depend on what other medications you may be taking, the severity of the disease, your overall physical health, age, cost, personal preference for treatment, and safety.
Typically, rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with medication to slow the progression of the disease and reduce pain. Drugs available for the treatment of RA include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which serve to reduce discomfort by reducing inflammation in the joints. Under this category, COX-2 inhibitors are a new type of drug that achieve the same affect but intended to cause fewer negative side effects in RA patients such as upset stomach and stomach bleeding. Corticosteroid drugs are another treatment for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers that can slow joint damage and reduce inflammation. This RA treatment, however, has been known to become less effective over time as the body adjusts to the anti-inflammatory chemicals, and can cause severe side effects in some individuals. Immunosuppressants can be effective for patients to assist the immune system, since RA facts show that a large cause of the disease stems from a defective immune system.
Rheumatoid arthritis information shows that surgery may be a good option for patients who suffer from nerve problems as a result of RA. This is caused by severe inflammation of the joints that tends to damage and irritate surrounding nerves. Surgical RA treatment is used to decompress the spinal cord to alleviate nerve pressure that is often at the root of the problem. Spinal instrumentation and fusion are surgical treatments that can fix deformity in the spine caused by the progression of rheumatoid arthritis; this can help give a long-lasting stability to the spinal column. More RA facts pertaining to surgical treatment such as post-operative care and practices should be taken into consideration before electing to undergo surgery as a means of rheumatoid arthritis treatment. These elements can include, but are not limited to, physical therapy, operational therapy, and possibly keeping a personal medical diary about your condition to help pinpoint the most effective treatment plan for your RA.
Spine Universe
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Posted under Arthritis Pain Treatment
This post was written by TKB_Editor on July 11, 2011
