What should you pay attention to with rheumatoid arthritis?

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Firstly, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It cannot be cured but can only be managed with medications to control the condition, relieve clinical symptoms, delay the onset of joint deformities, reduce complications, and improve quality of life. These are the main goals of treatment. Therefore, in the treatment process, the following points should be noted:

First, do not stop taking medication on your own. After the condition stabilizes, reduce the medication slowly under the guidance of a physician;

Second, diagnosis and treatment should be as early as possible to prevent the appearance of joint deformities;

Third, during treatment, it's important to periodically recheck blood routine, liver and kidney functions, and electrolytes;

Fourth, avoid excessive fatigue. However, one should not be inactive; physical exercise is an important part of the treatment process for rheumatoid arthritis;

Fifth, pay attention to keeping warm, avoid getting cold, and avoid the intake of raw and cold foods. These are some important precautions to take.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Does rheumatoid arthritis hurt?

Firstly, rheumatoid arthritis belongs to autoimmune diseases and is a chronic condition. The main symptoms include symmetric pain in multiple joints across the body, accompanied by morning stiffness, which is why joint pain occurs and is the most common symptom. The onset is slow for most people, but some experience an acute onset, with joint mobility issues appearing within a few weeks or days. Therefore, this disease cannot be cured; it can only be managed with medications to control symptoms, delay the deformity of joints, reduce disability rates, and enhance the quality of life, which are the objectives of comprehensive treatment. It is important to avoid exposure to cold and fatigue in daily life, avoid contact with cold water, keep warm, also avoid raw and cold foods, spicy and irritating foods, and eat more light, easy-to-digest, and high-protein foods to boost the immune system.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Is rheumatoid arthritis serious?

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, if treated reasonably and formally, can achieve clinical remission, so in this sense, rheumatoid arthritis is not severe. However, if patients do not adhere to formal treatment for a long time, after a long period, they may develop joint deformities and ankylosis, resulting in disability. From this perspective, rheumatoid arthritis should be taken seriously. Commonly used drugs for treating rheumatoid arthritis include anti-inflammatory pain relievers, with non-steroidal pain relievers being the most commonly used, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets. The most important step in treating rheumatoid arthritis is the selection of immunosuppressants, with common immunosuppressants including methotrexate and leflunomide. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific circumstances.)

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as an autoimmune disease and is a chronic autoimmune condition that is destructive to joints. It is primarily characterized by symmetric polyarthritis, with clinical manifestations varying significantly among individuals. Most cases begin gradually, initially presenting with symmetrical pain and swelling in the wrists. This often accompanies morning stiffness, fatigue, low-grade fever, muscle pain, or weight loss. In a minority of cases, the onset is more abrupt, with typical clinical manifestations appearing within a few days, including joint dysfunction, morning stiffness, and joint pain and swelling. Joint deformity is a later manifestation of the disease, indicating that the disease was not well-controlled, leading to joint damage.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Can people with rheumatoid arthritis have children?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease primarily affecting multiple joints throughout the body and cannot be completely cured. Research by experts has linked it to genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, patients with rheumatoid arthritis can have children, but this depends on whether their condition is in a stable phase. If the condition is active and medication is being used, then it is not advisable to become pregnant at this time. Decisions about having children should be made in consultation with your specialist, or your primary care physician, under their guidance and advice. Firstly, the condition should be stable and the medication reduced to the minimum. Additionally, during pregnancy, it is essential to monitor the side effects of the medication.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis in the hand

The key hand features of rheumatoid arthritis primarily manifest as symmetrical joint swelling and pain in both hands in the early stages. These swollen and painful joints include both wrist joints, bilateral metacarpophalangeal joints, and bilateral proximal interphalangeal joints. Rheumatoid arthritis rarely affects the distal interphalangeal joints of the hands. In the later stages of rheumatoid arthritis, due to the destruction of the hand joints by synovitis, some patients may develop deformities in the hand joints, commonly including ulnar deviation, swan neck deformities, or boutonniere deformities. Some patients may experience significant stiffness leading to limited mobility of the hand joints.