Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis mainly focuses on decreasing pain and improving joint movement.

Although treatment options inevitably vary, they are likely to include a combination of the following:

• pain relief
• inflammation reduction
• stopping/slowing joint damage using physical and/or occupational therapy
• surgery to relieve chronic pain in damaged joints
• joint protection
• balancing rest and exercise

Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be appropriate to help alleviate joint pain, improve function, and thereby enhance quality of life.  Possible procedures include joint replacement, tendon reconstruction and synovectomy  (removal of the inflamed synovium).  Ask you doctor if this is appropriate for you.

Joint protection
Braces, supports and other devices to protect the joint in question can help prevent further damage.  Your doctor will advise on whether this would be a helpful strategy.  For more information on joint protection, look at the Living with arthritis section in the Arthritis topic.

Rest and exercise
A balance between these two is crucial when living with the disease.  More rest is necessary when the disease is active - whilst more exercise is good when it is not.

Exercise can strengthen joints and maintain flexibility.  But the type of exercise will depend on the affected joints and your doctor and/or physical therapist should be able to advise you on what would be best.

Good forms of exercise are walking, swimming and stretching as they promote joint health by stretching and placing gentle pressure on muscles and surrounding joints.

Yoga and Pilates are both forms of exercise that can gently improve your fitness and also help to alleviate some of the symptoms of arthritis sufferers.  As relaxation is a primary goal with yoga, this has special value for arthritis sufferers. 

15/05/2009