How is rheumatoid disease treated? Clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis

This is a chronic autoimmune disease that mainly affects tissue consisting of connective cells.

The disease often spreads to the small joints of the hands and feet. It is characterized by their destructive changes leading to deformations.

Scientists are still arguing about what determines the appearance of this pathology in a person. It was found that heredity plays a major role.

Many sick people have certain antibodies in their bodies; the presence of herpes virus, rubella, or retrovirus in a person affects the development of pathology.

Own immune cells identify the connective tissue of the joints as a foreign factor and begin to systematically destroy them.

As a result, the joints become deformed, and with further progression, partial and then complete contracture occurs.

Symptoms

The first manifestations are observed in cold weather, when provoking factors most actively affect the human body. These factors include infections, hypothermia, allergies, surgical interventions and injuries during this period.

Rheumatoid arthritis begins with an unreasonable increase in body temperature, a decrease in the patient’s body weight, fatigue, loss of strength, increased sweating, and muscle pain.

Subsequently, symptoms of damage to peripheral joints appear, followed by damage to all systems in the human body.

Symptoms:

Joint pain is a constant, aching nature, which can intensify during evening time days.
Painful sensations in the muscles accompany the acute inflammatory process of the disease.
Body temperature rises to large quantities with sharp progression of inflammation.
Exudate accumulates in deformed joints during sleep, which prevents them from functioning normally in the first half hour after waking up.
Various changes pathological nature affect joints, causing irreversible changes deformational nature.
With rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of the pleural membrane of the lung is possible. Pleurisy is characterized by periodic accumulation of fluid in the lungs, impaired gas exchange function and requires long-term treatment.
In rare cases, damage to the heart muscles occurs, and rheumatoid damage manifests itself as inflammation of all layers of the heart muscle.
Inflammation in the kidneys appears with prolonged rheumatoid inflammation in a patient.
Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis affects blood vessels, in particular the vessels of the brain, as well as the membranes of the spinal cord.

Treatment

When a patient consults a doctor, a complete medical history is collected, and additional laboratory and x-ray tests are prescribed.

Based on the results, the doctor confirms the diagnosis of arthritis, and comprehensive treatment is prescribed. It consists of drug therapy, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises.

Home therapy

To achieve the best results, it is necessary to carry out treatment at home. What is the most effective way to treat arthritis at home?

No doctor can tell you exactly how to cure arthritis at home. Application folk ways home treatment is aimed at improving the patient’s condition. It is complex - carried out in parallel with the main treatment:

Black radish. 100 ml of freshly squeezed radish juice is mixed with 100 ml of water, a glass of honey and a tablespoon of table salt are added. The resulting liquid after mixing is placed on the arthritic joint and covered with a warm blanket.
Recipes with the addition of pine needles help eliminate inflammatory processes. For therapeutic procedures, a balm is prepared: 44 g of pine needles, 3 teaspoons of chopped dry onion skin, 1 clove of garlic, 2 tablespoons of rose hips, poured with 2 liters of water. This mixture is heated, and after boiling we continue to maintain it in a boiling state for half an hour. After boiling, this mixture is infused for a day in a warm place. The resulting infusion is taken orally, but not more than 1 liter per day.
Against pain, you can use compresses with potatoes: the potato mass is placed in a sieve and placed in water, the temperature of which is approximately 50-60 degrees. After heating, the potatoes are placed in natural fabric and placed on the sore spot, and polyethylene is placed on top to enhance the thermal effect. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in the evening, without removing it during sleep. Frequency - at least 7 days.
For intense pain, using a wrap with 6 percent vinegar is effective. 1 tablespoon of vinegar is dissolved with half a liter of water heated to 60 degrees. Soak a towel in the resulting mixture and wrap it around the sore spot, covering it with a blanket on top.
A complex effect, eliminating pain and inflammation, is provided by ointment from apple cider vinegar, eggs and turpentine. Proportions of the medicinal mixture: 1 yolk, 1 teaspoon each of vinegar and turpentine. In the evening, lubricate the sore spots.
Horseradish leaves are scalded with boiling water and applied to the affected area.
The leaves of coltsfoot, burdock, and cabbage are successfully used to relieve pain: wash the leaves, knead them, make single punctures with a needle and place them on the sore joint, wrap them with warming material. If necessary, it can be used up to several times a day.
Red wine is used to suppress inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. A mixture is prepared from a glass of wine heated to a temperature of 40 degrees and 2 tablespoons mustard powder, applied to the fabric and applied to the sore spot for a few minutes. Repeat the procedure for 2 days continuously.
Decoctions of cranberries, mint or sorrel are used to wipe the affected joints.
One of the old recipes is rubbing a saline alcohol solution into the affected joints.
A course of applications with clay consisting of 20 procedures is effective. Each treatment procedure must be agreed with a doctor.
To combat inflammation and painful sensations can be made from hops, sweet clover and St. John's wort. Add 60 g of Vaseline to 2 tablespoons of the mixture. The ointment is ready for use.

Medicinal ointments homemade:

Turpentine ointment. Ingredients: 4 g camphor, 150 ml turpentine, olive oil And medical alcohol. The resulting mixture is left in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours. The finished mixture must be applied to the sore spot and rubbed in.
Camphor and egg ointment. Effective against arthritis pain. Mix 50 g of camphor, 50 g of mustard powder, 3 egg whites and 100 ml of alcohol.
Propolis ointment with added olive oil. Using this recipe improves the ability to move joints, relieves inflammation and eliminates pain.

15 g of propolis are mixed with 1 tablespoon of glycerin and 50 ml of olive oil. The resulting mixture is heated in a water bath so that the propolis is completely dissolved. After this, cool the ointment to avoid burns. skin.

Apply 3 times a day to sore joints and leave for 2 hours, then remove the remaining medicinal mixture with a napkin or under running water.

Diet therapy

How to treat arthritis with proper nutrition? Part of treating rheumatoid arthritis is following special diet, helping to smooth out the symptoms of pathology.

The basis of nutrition should be foods with low calorie content: lean meat, fish, vegetable broths, juices from carrots, beets, fruits, rosehip tea, prunes, dried apricots, dates, etc. Salty, fatty and fried foods should be excluded from the daily diet.

For use following products should be treated with caution or completely excluded from the menu:

oat, wheat, corn cereals;
oranges, tangerines;
pork meat;
milk;
alcoholic products.

Massage

Treatment with massage must be carried out strictly during the period of remission - with the progression of inflammatory processes, massage treatments forbidden. Massage increases blood circulation in the affected joints and improves nutrition of the affected tissues.

When the foci of rheumatoid arthritis are localized in large joints (for example, the hip joint), cupping massage sessions are effective.

Physiotherapy

Carrying out physiotherapeutic procedures is important in the subsiding stage of the disease. People suffering from symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can carry out some of them at home.

How to treat rheumatoid arthritis at home using paraffin and magnetic therapy? In modern pharmacies, specialized devices for independent use can be purchased in the medical equipment departments. It is important to remember that any therapeutic actions must be agreed with the doctor who is observing the patient.

Orthopedics

To reduce pain and reduce the load on the affected joint, an orthopedic regimen is prescribed. It is achieved through the use of specialized orthoses that will provide movement restriction, compression and micro-massage of the area of the body for which it is intended.

The wearing time and the choice of the degree of rigidity of the orthopedic product are determined by the doctor. Depending on the material and structural elements, the orthosis can be designed for dynamic and static loads.

The more intense the patient's pain, the more rigid the bandage should be used. acute period diseases.

In the future, for preventive purposes, a bandage is used mild degree fixation.

Gymnastics

Physical activity plays a big role in the health of human joints. The joint is designed so that while it moves, synovial fluid supplies the tissues of the joint nutrients. When movement is limited, destructive changes begin inside the joint capsule.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it is important for your doctor to make a correct complex exercises and the mode of their implementation. These measures will help keep your joints in good shape.

Additionally, it is good to use dosed cardio training with moderate loads.

To monitor the patient’s well-being, it is correct if the complex is performed physical therapy takes place under the supervision of a doctor or instructor. He monitors the correct execution of exercise and breathing techniques.

If a person suffering from an illness performs exercises independently, it is necessary to exercise control over blood pressure and pulse. If your health worsens and the following symptoms appear, you should immediately stop doing gymnastics:

felt dizzy, lost coordination of movements;
darkening in the eyes, flickering of flies before the eyes;
pulse quickens;
painful sensations in the region of the heart;
joint pain;
feeling of tightness in the chest.

A set of exercises based on general state patient, is selected strictly individually. In the process of performing gymnastics, all muscle groups should be involved. The duration of execution in the first days should not exceed 15 minutes, subsequently - 30 minutes.

Movements should be performed at low speed, avoiding heavy loads. The dosed load is aimed strictly at maintaining joints in working condition.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it is not recommended to run, jump, squat, do heavy lifting, or lift heavy objects. It is undesirable to walk long distances, climb hills, stairs, or static loads in the form of squatting.

During the inflammatory course of the disease, gymnastic exercises are not performed.

In patients with pathological dysfunction of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, therapeutic exercises are carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor to monitor the patient’s condition.

Prevention

Mandatory visits to the attending rheumatologist every six months.
Therapeutic gymnastics and moderate gymnastic loads.
A course of massage will reduce tone and strengthen muscle tissue.
Additionally, you should monitor the nasopharynx, which can become a source of infections (tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc.). Carry out sanitation in a timely manner if the condition of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat requires it.
The use of orthopedic products is a good preventive measure to prevent exacerbations of rheumatoid arthritis.

All therapeutic measures at home should be carried out after consulting a doctor! Wrong actions may contribute to the worsening of the condition.

dieting,
the use of orthopedic products to reduce stress on affected joints,
home therapy,
massage and physical therapy.

These measures will significantly improve the patient's quality of life. An integrated approach will help not, if not cure, then not aggravate rheumatoid processes. Be healthy!

Every person has encountered in his life elderly people whose joints are disfigured. In most cases, old age is considered the main culprit. This is somewhat incorrect. What can cause such terrible deformation of joints? Of course, we will talk about arthritis. The inflammatory process seriously damages the joints. Can this be prevented? And how to treat arthritis? Let's figure it out.

Rheumatoid arthritis

This is an inflammatory disease that has chronic form. Initially, one joint is affected. But in some cases, the disease can affect several at once. Most often, the disease begins its journey from the small joints of the hands or feet. However, initial damage to the elbow, knee, temporomandibular, and hip joints also occurs.

Unfortunately, a progressive disease leads to irreversible processes in the joints. The disease remains forever, gradually worsening the condition of the bones. Therefore, the question arises quite acutely: how to treat rheumatoid arthritis? After all, from time to time the disease makes itself felt with various exacerbations.

The patient reacts quite sharply to injuries, hypothermia, climatic conditions, stress, physical activity, infections. During the course of the disease, internal organs are also affected. These are, as a rule, the kidneys, blood vessels, heart, nervous system, and lungs. Complications occur at any stage of the disease. These consequences are mostly reversible if the patient does not self-medicate and initially discusses the question of how to treat arthritis with a doctor.

The main causes of the disease

The source of the development of the disease can be one (or more) of the following factors:

Genetic predisposition. It is not the disease itself that is inherited, but the dysfunction immune system. An incorrect response to infections can cause arthritis.
Psycho-emotional stress and physical exercise. Childbirth and abortion often lead to illness. Problems in the social or family sphere can lead to illness. Radiation, chemical, and toxic effects on the body also provoke the appearance of arthritis.
Infections. To date, several agents have been identified that can trigger the development of the disease. Some of them: herpes viruses, rubella, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, retroviruses, mycoplasma. But none can become the sole cause of the disease. This is a kind of trigger mechanism that connects other factors.

Visit doctor

When faced with a formidable disease for the first time, patients feel confused. How to treat arthritis of the fingers? (As previously noted, these are often the first joints to be affected by the disease.) The main thing is not to panic.

Treatment for arthritis will only be successful if it is started on time. Therefore, those who do not want to become disabled, in mandatory should visit a rheumatologist. In the meantime, let's look at how to treat finger arthritis.

Medication methods

Modern doctors are able to offer many effective ways to combat the disease. These measures can relieve joint problems in a long period. A medical professional will not only select the necessary therapy, but will also explain in detail how to treat arthritis and arthrosis. Methods to combat the disease consist of the following stages:

Diagnostics. The type of arthritis and the main causes of its occurrence are determined.
Prescribing antibacterial drugs.
The use of non-steroidal and hormonal ointments, tablets. Intra-articular injections may be included. Their action is to relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Often, the doctor’s choice stops at using the following medications:
- "Diclofenac" - gel;
- Celebrex capsules;
- tablets and ointment "Nise";
- Movalis injections or tablets.

Restoration of cartilage tissue. This is a very long process. Therefore, it is worth being patient. Chondroprotectors "Teraflex" and "Artron Hondrex" are used as restorative agents.
Physiotherapy. The following procedures will speed up recovery and further consolidate the results:
Massotherapy;
- mud therapy;
- ultrasound;
- warming up;
- magnetic therapy.

Physiotherapy. We recommend classes in the pool or special complex exercises. This method permissible in remission phase.
Diet. To stop further progression of the disease, you should enrich your diet with antioxidants and vitamin E.
Surgical intervention. An extreme measure, used only when drug treatment is unsuccessful. During surgery, the affected joint is replaced with a prosthesis.

It should be noted that all methods of combating the disease are purely individual. Treatment that suits one patient will not always benefit another. Therefore, you should not self-medicate. All methods and questions about how to treat arthritis of the joints must be discussed with a doctor.

Folk remedies

These measures cannot be used self-treatment. However, their use can have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease. But don’t forget, before treating arthritis with folk remedies, be sure to listen to your doctor’s advice.

This kind of medicine can really help the patient. Especially if, along with the use of folk remedies, correct image life, do special gymnastics.

Marsh cinquefoil

For people seeking to find an answer to the question of how to treat rheumatoid arthritis, traditional medicine advises the above-mentioned herb. It is used both as a tincture for oral administration and as an ointment. The results from use are quite effective.

Sabelnik tincture . The root of the plant should be cut lengthwise. Grind thoroughly. The resulting pieces should be about 1 cm in size. Approximately 200 g of the prepared root must be poured with vodka (1 l). Use glass containers. The composition must be infused for three weeks. Then the solution should be filtered. Squeeze out the roots thoroughly. It is recommended to take the product before meals, approximately half an hour. Single dose - 1 tbsp. l. After drinking the tincture for 4-6 weeks, you definitely need to take a break for a month. It is recommended to keep the solution tightly closed in a dark place. Temperature - room temperature.
Ointment from cinquefoil tincture. Manufacturing takes place in a water bath. Take goose (pork) fat and combine with cinquefoil tincture (10:1). The resulting ointment should be rubbed into damaged joints overnight. Be sure to remember to wrap the sore areas with warm towels.

Coniferous infusions

How to treat arthritis? Only using integrated methods. Traditional medicine advises the use of antitumor and immunomodulatory agents to combat rheumatoid arthritis. An excellent medicine is an infusion of pine needles. It is aimed at strengthening the immune system.

Grind the pine needles. Pour boiling water over the resulting ingredient, in the amount of 0.5 cups. The latter will require 1 liter. The mixture should infuse for 15-20 minutes. Add 1 liter of cooled boiled water. Strain the infusion. Next, put it in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours. Carefully, without stirring the settled sediment, drain the infusion. The dose of this drug is 0.5 cups. Drink the specified amount of infusion 5-6 times throughout the day. If desired, you can add honey, sugar, lemon juice to the product.

Folk ointment

There are many different methods to solve the problem. A fairly effective way to answer the question of how to treat hand arthritis is healing ointment. To make it you will need 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp turpentine. - and the same amount of vinegar (apple vinegar). By thoroughly mixing the ingredients, you will get the necessary ointment. This tool should be rubbed into damaged joints.

Onion compress

Quite an effective way to treat arthritis.

Grind one medium onion on a fine grater. The resulting mush is an amazing panacea. Apply the resulting mixture to the damaged joints for about half an hour. It is recommended to repeat the procedure several times a day.

Warming bath

In search of an answer to the question of how to treat arthritis, most people carefully study folk remedies. Doctors do not rule out the use of such drugs as adjuvant therapy. The main thing to remember is that the use of each method should be decided with a doctor.

Enough in an effective way is a warming bath. For this you should stock up on essential oils of sandalwood, calendula or St. John's wort. They can be easily purchased at the pharmacy. IN warm water add a few drops essential oil. Immerse arthritic hands in the liquid for 15-20 minutes.

Potato infusion

Taking one raw potatoes, grind it thoroughly. You can use a fine grater. Pour the resulting pulp with a glass of kefir. This drug should be used according to a certain scheme.

So, for the first ten days (10 days), drink the infusion daily. In the second, the medicine is applied every other day. During the third decade, drink the drink every 2 days.

Thus, the course is extended over 2 months. Potato infusion allows you to get rid of pain for a long time long time. But, unfortunately, symptoms may return. Therefore, it is recommended that after some time repeat course for prevention purposes.

Buttercup compresses

Another great way, showing how to treat knee arthritis is the use of warming bandages. You need to be very careful with this method. Applying a compress to the injured knee is only necessary for 2 hours. Otherwise, you are guaranteed a severe burn.

To make a compress you will need a handful of ranunculus flowers. Grind them to form juice. Apply this paste to the damaged joint. Wrap the compress in polyethylene. Secure carefully with a bandage. After 1-2 hours (time varies depending on the severity of the disease), the compress should be removed.

This product will leave a small burn on the skin. The next day the area will be covered in blisters. You shouldn't pierce them. Wrap with clean gauze as they will get wet. Healers promise that blisters are completely painless, so there is no need to be afraid of them. But with their disappearance from the skin, arthritis will completely disappear.

If blisters do not appear the next day, then, unfortunately, the procedure must be repeated again.

Conclusion

Be sure to discuss all questions about how to treat arthritis with your doctor. This will avoid unpleasant complications and consequences. After all, only a doctor is able to correctly diagnose the disease, exclude individual intolerance, and take into account the interaction various means. Therefore, remember, using any prescriptions without consulting a doctor is a huge risk of acquiring a “bouquet” of complications.

Some people believe that there is no permanent cure for rheumatoid arthritis and that you can die from it. However, many doctors do not agree with this opinion and convince that a cure is quite possible if the disease is diagnosed in the initial stages and prescribed correct treatment. They resort to drug therapy and prescriptions traditional healers And . Patients will need to pay special attention to lifestyle and nutrition.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is a difficult but completely doable task.

Why does the disease appear?

Doctors cannot give a definite answer about the causes of rheumatoid arthritis. However, doctors identify the following risk factors:

Hereditary predisposition. If parents are diagnosed with arthritis, then the child’s chance of developing it increases.
Infectious diseases.
Permanent stressful situations and nervous tension.
Hypothermia and joint injury.
Disturbances in the activity of the endocrine system.

How to recognize pathology?

Rheumatoid arthritis has the following symptoms:

increased body temperature;
general fatigue;
swollen lymph nodes;
inflammatory processes in the joints;
weight loss;
stiffness of movement in the morning;
deformation bone tissue;
pain when moving.

How to permanently cure rheumatoid arthritis?

Essential Medicines

Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis will necessarily include anti-inflammatory pills.

The disease is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. First of all, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used, the action of which is aimed at suppressing cyclooxygenase. Under normal conditions, this enzyme is found in the body in small quantities, but its concentration increases when inflammatory processes develop, including as in rheumatoid arthritis. Cyclooxygenase accumulates in the joint area and provokes pain. To get rid of inflammation, doctors prescribe the following pharmaceuticals to patients:

"Ibuprofen";
"Piroxicam";
"Naproxen."

Rheumatoid arthritis begins to be treated in every situation, this is especially true for a disease that is in a minimal or moderately active stage. Removing the disease, as doctors note, is largely due to individual characteristics each individual patient. For example, for young patients and elderly people drug treatment are prescribed especially carefully, taking into account all possible unwanted reactions. In cases where the pathology occurs in a severe stage and if the patient has any extra-articular manifestations, arthritis is cured with the help of cytotoxic antidepressants.

Additional medications

Basic medicines

They serve to interrupt the course of the disease, as well as to prevent the destruction of joints and subsequent possible exacerbations. Therapy with such medications takes quite a long time, the first results are visible after at least 30 days. The most popular medicine from this group is Sulfasalazine.

Glucocorticosteroids

Glucocorticosteroids for rheumatoid arthritis are taken orally or as injections.

These pharmaceuticals are used either orally or intra-articularly. The choice of method of application depends on the severity of rheumatoid arthritis and its location. If the patient takes the medicine orally, then medications from this group can suppress inflammatory processes and stop changes in bone tissue. The joint administration of glucocorticosteroids is used to combat inflammation when oral medications are ineffective. The following medications are used:

"Prednisolone";
"Dexamethasone."

Therapy using traditional medicine

Healers claim that rheumatoid arthritis can be cured if simple recipes are used using medicinal plants. Let's consider the most effective folk remedies:

Traditional medicine has many recipes for eliminating rheumatoid arthritis available means.

Nettle infusion. 200 grams of plant leaves are mixed with the same volume of burdock and elecampane roots. You will need to take 3 tablespoons of this mixture and pour them with a liter of water. The ingredients are put on the stove until they boil, after which they are placed in a warm place and left to infuse for an hour. The resulting infusion is consumed until recovery occurs.
A decoction of aspen bark. You will need to take 3 tablespoons of the ingredient, place them in a saucepan and add 3 glasses of water. Send to low heat and cook for 30 minutes. After this, the broth is filtered and consumed in small portions. It must be used before complete cure rheumatoid arthritis.
Sea buckthorn. Both the leaves of the plant and its fruits are suitable for preparing the infusion. You will need 2 tablespoons of raw materials, which are poured into 500 ml hot water and insist for an hour. Drink 100 g infusion before meals 4 r. in a day.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology with widespread connective tissue, mainly in the joints, with erosive changes in them, with a chronic, often recurrent and progressive course. The trigger can be an infection, a cold, or an injury.

The pathological process leads to complete destruction of articular tissues, gross deformations and the development of ankylosis, which leads to loss of joint function and disability.

In severe cases, internal organs (heart, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, muscles, etc.) can also be affected, which significantly worsens the prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis. We will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment methods in detail in this article.

Statistics

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis among the adult population of different climatic and geographical zones averages 0.6 - 1.3%. The annual incidence over the past decade has remained at 0.02%.

An increase in rheumatoid arthritis with age has been noted; women are more often affected than men. Among people under 35 years of age, the prevalence of the disease is 0.38%, in people aged 55 years and older - 1.4%. A high incidence of the disease was detected in first-degree relatives of patients (3.5%), especially in females (5.1%).

What is it: reasons for its occurrence

Why does rheumatoid arthritis occur and what is it? Rheumatoid arthritis refers to autoimmune diseases, that is, diseases that occur when the normal functioning of the immune system is disrupted. As with most autoimmune pathologies, exact reason no disease was detected.

It is believed that the provoking factors for the occurrence of the disease are:

Genetic predisposition— close relatives of patients with rheumatoid arthritis develop this disease much more often.
Infections - arthritis often occurs after an infection, herpetic infection, hepatitis B, mumps.
Unfavorable external and internal environment — hypothermia, exposure to toxic products, including occupational hazards, stress, as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding,.

Under the influence of these factors, cells of the immune system begin to attack the cells of the joint lining, which causes inflammation in them. This process causes the joints to become swollen, warm, and painful to the touch. Cells of the immune system also cause damage blood vessels, which explains the so-called extra-articular symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (Still's disease) is an inflammatory disease of the joints, it is characterized by a progressive course with a fairly rapid involvement of internal organs in the process. This disease occurs in 5-15 people per 100,000 children.

The disease occurs in children under 16 years of age and may continue long years. The appearance of the disease may be the result different influences– viral and bacterial effects, cooling, medications, increased sensitivity to certain factors external environment and many others.

First signs

Rheumatoid arthritis can begin acutely and subacutely, with the latter type of onset observed in most cases.

The first signs of RA:

chronic fatigue;
constant muscle weakness;
weight loss;
the appearance of muscle pain for no apparent reason;
sudden and causeless jumps in temperature to a subfebrile level (37-38ºС);
increased sweating.

As a rule, such manifestations of the disease remain unattended, and then articular syndrome and extra-articular manifestations of the disease develop.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis: joint damage

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, when studying the patient’s complaints Special attention refers to the following symptoms:

Pain in the joints, their nature (aching, gnawing), intensity (strong, moderate, weak), duration (periodic, constant), connection with movement;
Morning stiffness in the joints, its duration;
Appearance of joints (swelling, redness, deformation);
Persistent limitation of joint mobility.

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis may also have other symptoms:

Hyperemia of the skin over the inflamed joints;
Atrophy of adjacent muscles;
With subluxations in the proximal interphalangeal joints, the hand looks like a “swan neck”; with subluxations in the metacarpophalangeal joints, it looks like “walrus flippers.”

Upon palpation you can detect: an increase in skin temperature over the surface of the joints; soreness of the affected joints; “lateral compression” symptom; muscle atrophy and skin thickening; subcutaneous formations in the joint area, most often the elbow, so-called rheumatoid nodules; Patellar balloting symptom to determine the presence of fluid in the knee joint.

Depending on clinical and laboratory data, there are 3 degrees of exacerbation of RA:

Low (joint pain is assessed by the patient as no more than 3 points on a 10-point scale, morning stiffness lasts 30-60 minutes, ESR 15-30 mm/hour, CRP – 2 pluses);
Moderate (pain – 4-6 points, stiffness in joints up to 12 hours after sleep, ESR – 30-45 mm/hour, CRP – 3 plus);
High (pain – 6-10 points, stiffness observed throughout the day, ESR – more than 45 mm/hour, CRP – 4 pluses).

In RA, peripheral joints are primarily affected, but we must not forget that this is a systemic disease, and pathological process Any organs and tissues where connective tissue is present can be retracted.

Extra-articular symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis

The development of extra-articular (systemic) manifestations is more typical for the seropositive form of rheumatoid arthritis with a severe long-term course.

Muscle damage manifested by atrophy, decreased muscle strength and tone, focal myositis.
Skin damage is manifested by dryness, thinning of the skin, subcutaneous hemorrhages and small focal necrosis.
Impaired blood supply to the nail plates leads to their fragility, striations and degeneration.
Presence of rheumatoid nodules- subcutaneously located connective tissue nodules with a diameter of 0.5-2 cm. They are characterized by a round shape, dense consistency, mobility, painlessness, less often - immobility due to adhesion to the aponeurosis.
The presence of rheumatoid vasculitis, which occurs in 10-20% of cases.

The most severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis are those that occur with lymphadenopathy, gastrointestinal lesions (enetritis, amyloidosis of the rectal mucosa), nervous system(neuropathy, polyneuritis, functional autonomic disorders), involvement of the respiratory system (, diffuse fibrosis, pneumonitis, fibrosing alveolitis, bronchiolitis), kidneys (glomerulonephritis, amyloidosis), eyes.

On the part of the great vessels and the heart, endocarditis, pericarditis, myocarditis, arteritis of the coronary vessels, and granulomatous aortitis may occur in rheumatoid arthritis.

Complications

pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
nervous system dysfunction;
blood diseases;
damage to the respiratory system;
kidney diseases;
damage to the joints and musculoskeletal system;
skin lesions;
eye diseases;
gastrointestinal dysfunction;
mental disorders;
other pathologies.

How to distinguish RA from other diseases?

Unlike rheumatism, with rheumatoid arthritis the inflammation is persistent - pain and swelling of the joints can last for years. This type of arthritis differs from arthrosis in that the pain does not increase with load, but, on the contrary, decreases after active movements.

Diagnostics

American Diagnostic Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis rheumatological association(1987). The presence of at least 4 of the following signs may indicate the presence of the disease:

morning stiffness for more than 1 hour;
arthritis of 3 or more joints;
arthritis of the joints of the hands;
symmetrical arthritis;
rheumatoid nodules;
positive rheumatoid factor;
radiographic changes.

Indicates the presence of inflammation in the body: the appearance of special inflammatory proteins - seromucoid, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor.

Making a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is possible only by assessing the totality of symptoms, radiological signs and results laboratory diagnostics. If the result is positive, treatment is prescribed.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

When accurate diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis, systemic treatment involves the use of certain groups of drugs:

basic drugs;
hormonal substances (glucocorticoids);
biological agents.

On modern stage development of medicine, the following goals are set in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis:

reduction and, if possible, elimination of symptoms of the disease,
prevention of destruction of joint tissue, disruption of its functions, development of deformations and adhesions (ankylosis),
achieving stable and long-term improvement in the condition of patients,
increase in lifespan,
improving quality of life indicators.

Treatment consists of a complex of methods of drug therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic nutrition, surgical treatment, sanatorium treatment and subsequent rehabilitation.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

This group of drugs is not included in the basic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, since it does not affect the destructive process in the joints. However, drugs from this group are prescribed to reduce pain and eliminate stiffness.
in the joints.

Most often used:

Prescribed during periods of exacerbation of pain and severe stiffness. Prescribed with caution to patients with gastritis.

Basic drugs

In combination with hormones, they help reduce the activity of rheumatoid arthritis. The most common drugs for treatment currently are:

gold preparations;
leflunomide;
penicillamine;
sulfasalazine.

There are also reserve drugs: cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, cyclosporine - they are used when the main drugs do not give the desired effect.

Biological agents

Monoclonal antibodies to certain cytokines neutralize tumor necrosis factor, which in the case of rheumatoid arthritis provokes damage to its own tissues.

There are also studies suggesting the use of lymphocyte differentiation regulators as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. This will avoid damage to the synovial membranes by T-lymphocytes, which are incorrectly “directed” to the joints by the immune system.

Glucocorticoids

These are hormonal drugs:

dexamethasone;
methylprednisolone;
triamcinolol;

Assigned as available systemic manifestations diseases, and in their absence. Today, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, treatment is practiced with both small and large doses of hormones (pulse therapy). Corticosteroids are excellent for pain relief.

Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis

According to reviews, methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis is actively prescribed in Russia and European countries. This is a drug that inhibits cells of the immune system, prevents the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the joints and aggravates the course of the disease. Now it is used very widely.

The drug has several side effects, therefore, it is used under the close supervision of the attending physician; during the course of treatment, the patient must regularly undergo blood tests. Despite this, methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis is the most appropriate solution, and in some cases it is simply irreplaceable.

The price of the drug varies depending on the form of release in the range from 200 to 1000 rubles.

Physiotherapy

Only after it is removed acute form illness, blood tests and temperature return to normal - massage and other physical therapy methods can be used for rheumatoid arthritis. The fact is that physiotherapy has a stimulating effect and can intensify the inflammatory process.

These methods improve blood supply to the joints, increase their mobility, and reduce deformation. Phonophoresis, diathermy, UHF, ozokerite and paraffin, infrared irradiation, therapeutic mud, and balneotherapy at resorts are used. We will not dwell on these methods in detail.

Operation

Surgery can improve your health situation by a relatively early stages illness, if one large joint(knee or wrist) is constantly inflamed. During such an operation (synovectomy) the synovial membrane joint, resulting in long-term relief of symptoms.

Joint replacement surgery is performed for patients with more severe joint damage. The most successful operations are on the hips and knees.

Surgical intervention has the following goals:

relieve pain
correct deformities
improve functional state joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is primarily medical problem. Therefore, surgery is reserved for those who are under the supervision of an experienced rheumatologist or doctor.

Nutrition

The rules of the diet are as follows:

inclusion sufficient quantity fruits and vegetables;
reducing the load on the kidneys, liver and stomach;
exclusion of foods that cause allergies;
replacing meat with dairy and plant products;
eating foods with increased content calcium;
avoidance of foods that cause excess weight.

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment with folk remedies

Treatment folk remedies involves the use of medicinal plants with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

To relieve pain in rheumatoid arthritis, you should take equally elderberry flowers, parsley root, stinging nettle leaf and willow bark. Grind everything, and then brew 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 glass of boiling water, then boil for 5-7 minutes over low heat, then cool and strain. Take two glasses of decoction, morning and evening.
Flowers collected during chestnut flowering filled with high-quality vodka (you need to take one part of vodka for two parts of flowers). The mixture is infused for two weeks in a dark place, filtered and after that the tincture is ready for use. You need to take the tincture 5 drops three times a day an hour before meals.
Dissolves in one hundred grams of alcohol 50 grams camphor oil and add 50 grams of mustard powder. Separately, beat the whites of two eggs and add them to the mixture. The resulting ointment is rubbed into the affected joint and relieves pain symptoms well.
Burdock will help relieve joint pain. It can be used in the form of tinctures. Grind the leaves of the plant in a meat grinder and pour in vodka (500 ml of vodka for 500 g of leaves). Shake the mixture and put it in the refrigerator. At night, apply gauze soaked generously in this solution to the sore spot. The pain goes away after several compresses. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with folk remedies can also be carried out by wrapping whole burdock leaves at night.

At home, you can make compresses, rub in homemade ointments, and prepare decoctions. It is important to follow the correct eating style, which helps restore metabolism in the body.

Prevention

Prevention of the disease and its exacerbations is aimed, first of all, at eliminating risk factors (stress, smoking, toxins), normalizing body weight and maintaining a balanced diet.

Following these rules will help avoid disability and prevent the rapid progression of RA.

Forecast

Rheumatoid arthritis shortens life expectancy by an average of 3 to 12 years. A 2005 study by the Mayo Clinic found that the risk of heart disease is twice as high in those with rheumatoid arthritis, regardless of other risk factors such as diabetes, alcoholism, high cholesterol and obesity.

The mechanism by which the risk of heart disease increases is unknown; the presence of chronic inflammation is considered a significant factor. Possibly using new biological drugs can increase life expectancy and reduce risks for the cardiovascular system, as well as slow down the development of atherosclerosis.

Limited studies demonstrate risk reduction cardiovascular diseases, while an increase in total cholesterol levels is observed while the atherogenic index remains unchanged.