Rheumatoid arthritis should be seen in the rheumatology department.

Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should visit the department of rheumatology and immunology, as it is an immune-related disease. The primary mechanism of the disease involves the production of abnormal antibodies in the body, which attack the joints themselves, leading to symptoms such as joint swelling and pain. Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis can also manifest symptoms outside of the joints. The most common of these is interstitial lung disease in some patients, primarily presenting as asthma. Furthermore, some patients may experience kidney involvement, mainly characterized by significant proteinuria.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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How to cure rheumatoid arthritis?

The treatment methods for rheumatoid arthritis mainly consist of three major categories. The first category is the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, commonly including non-steroidal analgesics such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets, and small doses of corticosteroids can also be used. For rheumatoid arthritis, the most important treatment is the choice of immunosuppressants. Commonly used immunosuppressants include methotrexate and leflunomide. After using these medications, it is necessary to regularly monitor blood routine tests and liver and kidney functions to check for possible side effects of the drugs. If the effects of the above oral medications are not satisfactory, the application of biologics can also be considered. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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The difference between rheumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatic arthritis is a reactive joint pain that occurs after a streptococcal infection. In addition to joint pain, common symptoms include mitral valve stenosis in some patients, skin erythema, and some patients may also exhibit symptoms such as chorea. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often show symmetrical swelling and pain in the joints of both hands. Blood tests reveal significantly elevated levels of rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, and AK antibodies. Inflammatory indicators such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein also tend to be significantly elevated. The main difference between rheumatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that rheumatic arthritis can involve cardiac and skin pathologies, while rheumatoid arthritis primarily manifests as joint-related pathologies.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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Is hot compress useful for rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis during the acute flare-up phase makes heat application useless; it might even exacerbate the symptoms of joint pain. Normally in daily life, applying heat to the affected joints can assist in treatment. However, during the acute flare-up phase of rheumatoid arthritis, the main symptoms are migratory pain in the major joints of the limbs. Cold application may help alleviate the pain, but heat should definitely not be applied during the acute phase. The development of rheumatoid arthritis is somewhat related to streptococcal infections. Therefore, penicillin antibiotics are generally used for anti-infection treatment. During the acute phase, it is common to also use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as etoricoxib or meloxicam, to relieve symptoms.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis refers to the damage of joint cartilage due to degeneration in old age, which can cause symptoms such as joint pain, limited mobility, and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, involves the destruction of joint cartilage solely due to rheumatic diseases, particularly accompanied by abnormal proliferation of the synovium, causing pain and local heating, and resulting in limited joint mobility. Rheumatic diseases feature migrating joint pain, which worsens when exposed to cold. Additionally, diagnostic indicators such as positive rheumatoid factor will show increased levels, thus making it relatively easy to distinguish between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Foods to Avoid with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should adhere to a light diet and avoid spicy foods, overly nourishing and greasy foods. Specifically, the following foods should be avoided: vegetables such as celery, coriander, shiitake mushrooms, leeks, and seaweed. In terms of meat, one should reduce consumption of warming foods like lamb, beef, and dog meat. Also, it is advisable to limit intake of high-protein seafood such as shrimp, crab, and sea cucumber. Regarding fish, preference should be given to freshwater fish, while the consumption of sea fish should be minimized. These are the foods that should be avoided by those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.