How to Best Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis?
There are many treatment methods for rheumatic arthritis, which can be divided into general treatment, drug treatment, and surgical treatment. It is recommended that patients seek medical attention promptly and undergo targeted treatment under the guidance of a doctor.
I. General Treatment
1. Rest: If the condition is mild, patients can engage in moderate activities, but avoid strenuous exercise to prevent worsening symptoms.
2. Physical therapy: Methods such as hot compresses and massages can promote local blood circulation and relieve pain symptoms. Additionally, acupuncture and moxibustion can also help alleviate discomfort.
3. Functional exercise: During the acute phase, patients should rest in bed. Once symptoms improve, they can perform limb extension and flexion exercises in bed or practice standing and walking to enhance muscle strength and prevent muscle atrophy.
II. Drug Treatment
1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Commonly used drugs include ibuprofen sustained-release tablets and diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, which can relieve fever and pain caused by inflammatory reactions.
2. Glucocorticoid drugs: If the above medications are ineffective, prednisolone acetate injection and dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection can be prescribed to inhibit the immune system, reduce inflammation, and control disease progression.
3. Biological agents: Commonly used drugs are adalimumab injection and secukinumab injection, which are suitable for patients intolerant to other medications and often have good therapeutic effects.
III. Surgical Treatment
For patients with obvious deformities, surgical correction of the deformed area may be necessary to restore normal limb structure and function. In addition to the above common methods, traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy methods such as acupuncture and moxibustion can also be used as adjunctive treatments to effectively alleviate discomfort. It is also important to take proper warmth measures, avoid catching a cold, and regularly visit the hospital for follow-up examinations.