You Got Rhuematoid Arthritis – Now What?
OK, you’ve just been to the doctors and he’s told you that you’ve got rhuematoid arthritis. You’re probably thinking, “What the heck is that?” Here is a quick round up of what the disease is and what treatments are available.
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the joints. The disease can affect any of the joints in the body but is commonly seen in the hands and feet. You maybe familiar with the pain and stiffness around the joints with is secondary to this inflammation.
The stiffness around the joints is often worse in the morning but can get better after a bit, once you have had a chance to move around.
As your doctor may have told you, rhuematoid arthritis is a chronic disease, which basically means it is long lasting. But it is common for there to be periods where it gets worse then gets better, only to return at a later date. In other words it often comes and goes.
There is no known cure but there are numerous treatments that can help with the symptoms. Your doctor is likely to prescribe medication that is anti-inflammatory. This will not only bring down the swelling but will also offer pain relief.
There are also a number of steps that you can take yourself. Read up on the latest ideas about rheumatoid arthritis and you might even want to join a local arthritis group so that you can share your experiences with others. Many people find this is a great source of support.
You may also want to consider alternative treatments that can help. This can include looking at your diet. Many sufferers have found help from an ‘anti-inflammatory’ diet consisting of a good range of healthy foods, and low in animal fats. Studies have shown that some supplements, can also be of benefit to sufferers of rhuematoid arthritis. These include the products high in omega3 fatty acids such as cod liver oil and fish oil.