Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes stiffness, joint inflammation or swelling, and pain in joint tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis disease can normally affect the joints of both hands or knees, ankles, and other body parts like eyes, circulatory system, heart, and lungs. RA occurs when the immune system deteriorates tissues or the lining of the joints, also called synovium. Many health experts recommend pain-relieving drugs that work, such as rheumatoid arthritis medicines, including Brufen 400mg, Naprosyn 250+ tablets, Ibugesic 200mg, and Nucoxia 90mg. These drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are widely taken to relieve moderate pain and swelling of joints. They can effectively alleviate joint inflammation, bone ache, redness, and swelling.
Osteoarthritis typically inflicts wear and tear of joint bones. On the other hand, RA affects the functioning of joints as well as other body parts. You must understand the nature of your joint pain and muscle inflammation in other body parts before trying a rheumatoid arthritis medicine to manage the condition.
Understand the causes of Rheumatoid arthritis
The underlying causes of RA are still unknown. Still, research studies have suggested that it is an autoimmune disease in which our immune system mistakes our body cells for external invaders and releases inflammatory chemicals to neutralize them. In rheumatoid arthritis disease or inflammatory arthritis, our immune system attacks the synovium, which is a tissue lining around a joint, and it releases a fluid to smoothen and maintain the function of the joint. The inflamed or swelled synovium gets thicker, making you feel joint pain that further affects your body’s movements. Some researchers believe that people who develop rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may have certain genes that get activated by a trigger. Such a trigger could be a virus or bacteria physical or emotional stress.
Some genetic factors behind the development of RA cannot be written off since certain genetic variations and nongenetic aspects might develop a risk for rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies have also found that people born with variations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
During the initial phase, the signs of rheumatoid arthritis are not so visible, and people may not experience acute joint pain and swelling in joint tissues, but there may be mild pain and tenderness. In this condition, the severity of pain increases slowly and gradually. Those who want to manage RA from the very first stage should understand the usual rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, such as:
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- Joint pain, muscle tenderness, joint inflammation, long-lasting swelling or stiffness
- Acute pain in more than one joint
- Pain or swelling that starts from small joints like wrists, fingers, and other joints of hands and feet
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
- Mild fever and loss of appetite
Many people living with rheumatoid arthritis disease experience symptoms that don’t involve bone erosion and joint pain. Some other areas that may be affected by RA include skin, nerve tissue, bone marrow, eyes, lungs, heart, salivary glands, kidneys, and blood vessels.
Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis requires quick, effective, and sufficient medication when you detect the condition. There are some effective and simple pain relief strategies to manage rheumatoid arthritis. RA patients can identify this condition by a physical examination, assessment of medical history, hereditary factors or family history, lab tests, and physiotherapy.
The wear and tear of bones due to RA can be detected by an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Administering rheumatoid arthritis meds like Brufen 400mg, Naprosyn 250+, Ibugesic 200mg, and Nucoxia 90mg can also be taken that work to mitigate this erosion. Consult with your doctor to know the right medicine you should take to heal the pain.
Generally, the medicines that treat rheumatoid arthritis are classified into:
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are taken to prevent joints from permanent damage. Some particular DMARDs or drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended to mitigate joint inflammation. Medicinal substances like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are used to treat RA.
Corticosteroid medications like prednisone, cortisone, and hydrocortisone reduce inflammation, muscle pain, and joint damage.
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor or jakinib is an immune-modulating medication. It is used in the treatment of some inflammatory arthritis as well as some skin conditions.
Biologic agents or biologic response modifiers like abatacept, etanercept, golimumab, Infliximab, adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, rituximab, sarilumab, tocilizumab, etc. are usually prescribed along with DMARDs to reduce joint pain and bone erosion.