How to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Find out the best ways to manage your joint pain and inflammation for the long term.

Have you been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis? This chronic autoimmune condition attacks the lining of the joints, causing stiffness in your joints, joint swelling and pain that can lead to complications such as deformity and bone loss and functional impairments. This is the reason it is so important that those with Rheumatoid Arthritis have a Rheumatologist like our own Board Certified Rheumatologist, Dr. Mark Fisher in Haddon Heights, NJ, who can provide the effective treatment plan you need to manage symptoms and to prevent complications and most importantly to try and keep you active and enjoying the activities you love.

Even though there is currently no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, our Haddon Heights, NJ, Rheumatoid Arthritis Doctor can create a treatment plan and help you determine the right medication (or medications) to help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Our goal is to make living with RA easier for you. Make no mistake about the fact that No Cure DOES NOT MEAN there is no effective life-changing treatments!!  There are good effective treatments available to you!!

Here are the most common treatments that our doctor may prescribe:

ALL Medications have potential risks and the benefits vs risks of medications must always be taken into account for your condition and other medical problems if present.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

This includes those over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or naproxen, which can help alleviate mild inflammation and discomfort. Of course, our rheumatologist may also prescribe stronger NSAIDs if these OTC medications aren’t enough.

Corticosteroids

One of the most commonly used steroids for treating RA is prednisone. This is a very strong medication that can handle more severe forms of inflammation while also slowing down joint damage. Of course, this medication should only be used for a short period of time and not long term. This is always to be considered only for temporary care where possible.

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs

These medications do several  things: they slow the progression of RA ; they help to  protect the joints and tissues around the joints from serious and long-term damage and deformity; they reduce ongoing pain and symptoms of the arthritis by reducing the inflammation caused by this disease; and most importantly, they help to keep patients maintaining their quality of life.

Biological Monoclonal Antibodies and Small Molecule Medications:

These medications act on specific areas of the immune system that are responsible for triggering an inflammatory response in the body and damage from this chronic inflammatory disease. By suppressing these areas of the immune system, the medications can reduce inflammation, joint damage and deformities from occurring, and also other systemic effects of RA. New such medications are becoming available all of the time. These medications, in particular, have been life-changing for so many patients with RA.

These are very costly and the expense can be prohibitive. Fortunately, most insurances do help with these costs.

Also, the pharmaceutical companies do offer financial assistance for most patients requiring it, making it more affordable to many patients.

Other Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Medications aren’t the only modality needed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Your Rheumatologist may also recommend exercise or physical therapy to help keep joints feeling their best and keeping mobility optimal. Regular physical therapy can help keep joints supple and flexible. A physical therapist can also provide a list of advice and tips for how to execute certain everyday tasks to make it easier on you and your body.

In severe cases, it might be necessary to have surgery to repair joint damage and keep a patient active. Surgery may also be the only way to restore functionality within certain damaged joints or to correct deformities as a result of RA. Fortunately, the need for surgery has been significantly reduced in patients being treated early with a Rheumatologist with the newer medications currently available.

If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, or if you are experiencing symptoms that you believe to be RA and you are living in or around Haddon Heights, NJ, or Southern NJ in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, and Cumberland Counties, please give our office a call today to learn more about the different ways in which we can help you treat your long-term condition early and effectively. Call our Board Certified Rheumatologist 

Mark Fisher MD FACR at 856-547-8004 today.

Most major health insurances and Medicare are accepted.