How to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis
To treat rheumatoid arthritis, it's important that you talk with your doctor so they can prescribe you medication to help slow the progression of your symptoms. In addition to prescription medication, you can take over-the-counter NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, to help with pain and swelling. You can also treat your rheumatoid arthritis using non-drug therapies, like physical therapy, yoga, and meditation.
Consult with your doctor. Medications play a vital role in slowing the progression of RA symptoms, so it's important that you work with a regular health care provider that you trust to create a drug therapy treatment plan. With their knowledge of your personal history and specific case, they will be able to determine the best prescriptions for you. Honest communication is imperative. You should be comfortable telling them what's going on, especially when it comes to your medication and how it's affecting you. If you are in the market for a regular health care provider, it's best to find one who has experience with RA. Find a rheumatologist. These specialists can either be seen exclusively, or you can ask if they will work in conjunction with your regular health care provider.  They should have no problem sharing your case. If they do, you might want to shop around. Universities, teaching hospitals, and doctor rating websites are good sources for locating possible specialists in your area. Look for a rheumatologist who encourages their patients to learn all they can about RA. A good RA specialist is someone who views you as a partner in creating your personal treatment plan. Take NSAIDS to manage your symptoms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen (Aleve) are commonly used in RA to help manage pain, swelling, and inflammation. They can be obtained over-the-counter or in higher doses as a prescription. The weaker, over-the-counter versions have few side effects and low risk compared to higher dose prescriptions, but they can only help manage the symptoms, not slow the disease. Higher dose symptoms can include upset stomach, increased blood pressure, anemia, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Consider disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. DMARDs such as Trexall, Arava or Plaquenil can alter or slow RA's progression and are meant for long-term use. They are not without possible side effects, but this is different for every person. They can be taken with other types of pain relievers. Liver damage and increased risk of infection are the most serious possible side effects. DMARDS are the cornerstone of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. These medications include the following: methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, and other agents with a more limited role. Ask about including steroids in your RA treatment. Your doctor will help you decide if they are right for your treatment plan. These drugs slow joint damage while reducing pain and inflammation. However, they are powerful and possibly dangerous, making them more useful against acute flare-ups. Glucocorticoids are useful and are effective in suppressing the symptoms of RA. They have also been implicated in the impact on disease progression. However, due to toxicities they are not ideal for long term management. They can be taken as pills, liquids, or shots. They can cause a myriad of side effects such as high blood pressure, diabetes, elevation in liver enzymes, sores in your mouth, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, CNS findings, alopecia, fever, hematological abnormalities, and weak bones. Keep taking your meds. If you want to have the best chance of managing your RA symptoms and slowing or altering its progress, it is vital to adhere to the drug-therapy put in place with the help of your doctor. The success or failure of this therapy is directly reliant upon adherence. 30 to 80 percent of RA patients only take their medication half of the prescribed time, adversely affecting their treatment. Participate in physical therapy. The overall goal of physical therapy is to keep you moving and to build strength, flexibility, and overall physical fitness in order to relieve symptoms and promote health. A good therapist will create an exercise program specifically geared to your needs and ability. With their knowledge of how bones, joints, and muscles work together, your therapist can help guide you and prevent any unnecessary injuries. Seek the help of an occupational therapist. Occupational therapy is focused on assisting you in completing basic daily tasks. This therapy works well to improve your quality of life, which goes a long way to improving not only physical health but emotional and mental health as well. A therapist can show you how to perform tasks without stressing your joints. They can introduce assistive devices to make certain tasks easier for you. They may create a home exercise program to increase your range of motion. Experiment with mind-body therapies. In general, mind-body therapies are practices that allow your mind to help your body overcome discomfort, illness, and injury. The pain of RA and the side effects of medication can cause stress and depression, which can trigger RA symptoms. Mind-body therapies can reduce stress and lift depression, making them a great addition to an RA treatment plan.. Examples include tai chi, yoga, meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, and various relaxation techniques. Apply heat and cold. Even if you have no physical therapist, it is easy to use self-care to reduce pain and swelling caused by RA with the application of heat and cold therapies. Heat is great for stiff joints while cold numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Use heat on your joints for approximately 15 minutes by applying a hot pack, taking a bath, or taking a shower. Heat relaxes muscles and eases your pain. Use cold treatments such as massaging joints with ice, applying cold packs, or soaking joints in cold water to dull pain. You can alternate between heat and cold applications. For instance, you can use warm water for 3-to-4 minutes, and then use cool water for 1 minute. Exercise. As painful as it might sound, exercise geared to the needs and capabilities of the individual is a cornerstone of RA treatment. Even without the help and knowledge of a physical therapist, low-impact aerobics and exercises that build strength and flexibility can be extremely beneficial. Gentle activities such as walking and swimming work very well. A physical therapist can be of great assistance in creating an exercise program tailor-made for you. Eat an RA supportive diet. Although the scientific evidence is inconsistent at this time, there are many studies and testimonials that suggest eating certain foods and avoiding others may help with RA symptoms. In general, a balanced diet (which according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should be centered on plant-based foods) seems the best over-all way to go, but you can also try adding or removing foods thought to either promote or fight inflammation. Foods to add: cold water fish; fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; extra-virgin olive oil. Foods to avoid: meats grilled or fried at high temperature, and omega-6 fatty acids found in processed snacks and most cooking oils. 
Consult with your doctor. Find a rheumatologist. Take NSAIDS to manage your symptoms. Consider disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Ask about including steroids in your RA treatment. Keep taking your meds. Participate in physical therapy. Seek the help of an occupational therapist. Experiment with mind-body therapies. Apply heat and cold. Exercise. Eat an RA supportive diet. 