Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to systemic diseases of the connective tissue with damage to the small joints of the limbs. Chronically progressive course of the disease requires a long and systematic treatment. Conservative treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is carried out in the following areas:
- elimination or weakening of the pain syndrome;
-reducing the inflammatory process in the synovial membrane of the joints, preventing the development of bone destruction, damage to internal organs and ankylosis;
- prevention of joint deformation;
- rehabilitation of patients physical and psychological.
With a sharp exacerbation, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis begins with the appointment of a bed or gentle regimen, immobilization of the affected joints, anti-inflammatory and pain medication.
Anti-inflammatory therapy
NSAIDs with basic drugs are used to treat acute manifestations of the disease, as supportive anti-inflammatory therapy in cases of slowly progressing arthritis. In the form of ointments and creams, NSAIDs are used for local treatment. NSAIDs, although they have good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, do not affect the course of the disease and do not prevent the destruction of cartilage of the articular surfaces. This group of drugs when ingested irritates the gastric mucosa, which can lead to the development of drug gastritis and even ulcers.
Base preparations
The basis of the medical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is basic drugs. These drugs modify the development of the disease, their effect is slow. Basic drugs include cytostatic immunosuppressants - gold salts, aminoquinoline preparations, D-penicillamine. One of the most common drugs from this group is methotrexate, with rheumatoid arthritis it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, slows down the further development of the disease, and protects the cartilage tissue from destruction.
Basic drugs are prescribed no later than 3 months after the start of therapy to all patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in the absence of the effect of the use of NSAIDs. If the use of basic drugs does not give the desired therapeutic result within two to three months, additional corticosteroids are needed.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are prescribed for high inflammation, systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis involving internal organs, in the absence of the effect of treatment with NSAIDs and basic drugs.
Corticosteroids, depending on the severity of the inflammatory process, are prescribed in a dose of 10 to 40 mg per day (equivalent to prednisone). This dose is used until a stable remission is achieved, followed by a gradual decrease in hormonal drugs and the simultaneous administration of NSAIDs.
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with corticosteroids gives a quick positive result, but can lead to the development of complications. Therefore, such treatment should be carried out under mandatory dispensary control.
Along with medicines, rheumatoid arthritis is treated with physical methods. Effective use of hemosorption, plasmapheresis, lymph and immunosorption, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy, laser therapy. Local treatment consists in the intra-articular administration of anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, which is carried out in specialized rheumatology departments.
In the stage of remission, patients are prescribed sanatorium treatment using therapeutic mud, ozokerite applications and balneological procedures.
We examined rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms, treatment of this disease, depending on the stage. Adequate treatment for arthritis will slow the further progression and development of complications.