How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated?

Of all the treatments surrounding rheumatoid arthritis, the traditional treatments are exercise, rest, medication and sometimes corrective surgery depending on the severity.

For the most part, medication is given to reduce swelling and inflammation, as well as pain relievers to decrease the joint pain during inflammation, usually in the form of ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and other anti-inflammatory pain killers. There are also many different kinds of desisease-modifying antirheumatic drugs which are used to treat the symnptoms of rheumatoid arthritis which suppress the immune system’s attacks on the joints, such as plaquenil, cytoxan, imuran, cyclosporine; biological treatments such as enbreal, orencia and rituxan.

However, perhaps the best treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is plenty of rest and exercise, especially during the periods of intense inflammation during which support devices such as a cane or walker may assist in mobility.