Conservative treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to the systemic diseases of connective tissue with the defeat of small joints of the extremities. Chronically progressing course of the disease requires a long and systematic treatment. Conservative treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is carried out in the following directions:

- elimination or easing of pain syndrome;

- Reduction of the inflammatory process in the synovial membrane of the joints, prevention of bone destruction, internal organs and ankylosis;

- prevention of joint deformation;

- rehabilitation of patients physical and psychological.

With a sharp exacerbation, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis begins with the appointment of a bed or sparing regimen, immobilization of affected joints, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications.

Anti-inflammatory therapy

NSAIDs with basic drugs are used to treat acute manifestations of the disease, as supporting anti-inflammatory therapy in cases of slowly progressing arthritis. In the form of ointments and creams, NSAIDs are used for local treatment. NSAIDs, although they have good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, do not affect the course of the disease and do not prevent the destruction of cartilage of articular surfaces. This group of drugs when ingested irritates the gastric mucosa, which can lead to the development of medical gastritis and even ulcers.

Basic preparations

The basis of medicamental treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is the basic drugs. These drugs modify the development of the disease, their effect is slow. The basic drugs include cytostatic immunosuppressors - gold salts, aminoquinoline preparations, D-penicillamine. One of the most common drugs from this group - methotrexate, with rheumatoid arthritis has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, slows the further development of the disease, protects the cartilage tissue from destruction.

Baseline drugs are prescribed no later than 3 months after the start of therapy to all patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in the absence of the effect of NSAIDs. If the use of basic drugs does not give the desired therapeutic result within two to three months, additional corticosteroids are needed.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are prescribed for a high activity of inflammation, systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis with the involvement of internal organs, in the absence of effect from the treatment of NSAIDs and basic drugs.

Corticosteroids, depending on the severity of the inflammatory process, are prescribed at a dose of 10 to 40 mg per day (the equivalent of prednisolone). This dose is used until a stable remission is achieved, followed by a gradual decrease in hormonal drugs and the simultaneous administration of NSAIDs.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with corticosteroids gives a quick positive result, but can lead to the development of complications. Therefore, such treatment should be carried out under compulsory dispensary control.

Along with medicines, rheumatoid arthritis is treated with physical methods. Effective use of hemosorption, plasmaphoresis, lympho- and immunosorption, phonophoresis, magnetotherapy, laser therapy. Local treatment consists in intra-articular administration of anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, which is performed in specialized rheumatological departments.

In the remission phase, the patients are prescribed sanatorium treatment using therapeutic muds, ozokeritic applications and balneological procedures.

We examined rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms, treatment of this disease depending on the stage. Adequate treatment of arthritis will slow further progression and development of complications.