Arthritis Treatment
How to treat arthritis in the 21st Century...
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• Relieve pain/inflammation
• Minimize risks of therapy
• Retard disease progression
• Provide patient education
• Prevent work disability
• Enhance quality of life and functional independence
While the goals are similar they are achieved using different approaches depending on the diagnosis. The effective management includes a combination of conventional medicines, effective alternative treatments, changes in diet and food, rest, exercise, lifestyle changes (e.g., weight loss if needed), and joint protection.
Factors involved in decision making include the diagnosis, the severity of disease, and the patient’s response to previous therapies.
The decision making doesn’t end there either. As a patient is followed over time, things change. What initially was felt to be an effective arthritis treatment may no longer be effective.
Side-effects may occur.
Additions and deletions of medications need to be considered. Drug interactions with other therapies are a concern.
Co-morbid conditions (other medical illnesses) enter into the equation. Newer therapies, when they arrive, may change the picture.
Patient preference, when it can be accommodated, should also be considered. And this dovetails with a patient’s lifestyle... The right therapy for a working man of 35 may not be the right therapy for a retired woman of 80. The correct arthritis treatment for a hard-driving executive may not be ideal for a laid back person who wants to use as many natural remedies as possible.
Finally, the ever-changing landscape of insurance issues plays a role... in my opinion, way too big a role in decision making.
In this section, I will discuss conventional therapies and arthritis treatment. A few examples...
Biologics Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of the complex interplay among cells called lymphocytes, cells called macrophages, and the messenger signals they communicate with, called cytokines. Biologic medications work by targeting these different areas. In essence, they work with laser-like precision on the immune system.This page discusses the use of biologics- the new wave in arthritis therapy.
Prosorba column Since rheumatoid arthritis is the result of cellular interactions that produce an excessive amount of destructive antibodies, it makes sense that removing some of these toxic influences may make rheumatoid arthritis better. That is the theory behind the use of the Prosorba column for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
And there is much more...
So make sure you check out specific therapies on the various site pages.
Also, I urge you to visit the practice website of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. Lots more useful information.
Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland A premier private arthritis center specializing in clinical research involving rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Located in Frederick, Maryland
Return to arthritis home page.
