Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. It causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in the joints. Furthermore, it can also cause pain around the body organs. It is referred to as a systematic disease since it affects the whole body. In case you suspect that you are suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis, consider visiting Orthopedic doctors. An Orthopedic doctor will fully examine any kind of deformity, inflammation, or pain that you are experiencing.

How it affects immune system

Rheumatoid Arthritis usually occurs when the immune system mistakes the body’s health tissues for being foreign invaders. RA is characterized by chronic joint inflammation, that is most commonly experienced in the knee, hands, and the feet.

Causes

Approximately 1.5 million people in the United States are affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis. Most commonly, it occurs during the age of 30-60.

Generally, there is no clear sign on what exactly causes Rheumatoid Arthritis. However, doctors do state that the inflammation and joint damage occurs due to an abnormal response of immune system. Overall, your genes, environmental factors, and hormones are involved.

Symptoms

The symptoms include but not limited to:

  • Tender or swollen joints
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Stiffness or pain in more than one joints
  • Joint deformity
  • General feeling of being unwell/weakness.
  • Excessive weight loss

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment types

There’s no direct cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, since every case is different in severity and may have different underlying cause. However, there are several treatments that you can use.

These treatments help you manage the inflammatory response, and pain that you experience in your joints. Furthermore, they may also prevent it from spreading. These treatments may include:

  • Medications
  • Home Remedies
  • Dietary Changes
  • Specific types of exercises targeting the painful or swollen joints

Natural remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

As mentioned before, there is no exact cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Currently, it is in the state of ongoing research. However, regular exercise especially those that target your joints, stress management, and proper diet with rest can improve your health. These may also be beneficial in avoiding rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the natural remedies include:

·        Fish Oil

According to various researches fish oil supplements that contain Omega fatty acids help in curing Rheumatoid Arthritis by reducing pain and stiffness in the joints caused by RA.

·        Plant Oil

Some specific plant oils reduce the stiffness and inflammation caused in joints by RA resulting in reduction of overall pain and morning stiffness. Gamma-linolenic acid contained by evening primrose oil can provide some overall relief in the pain.

·        Cold packs

By applying ice pack to the swollen joints, the swelling can be reduced. This in turn, reduces the pain and stiffness in the joint. Cold packs can also act as an instant pain killer as they numb the swollen area down. As a result of this, the pain reduces.

·        Heat

A hot shower can help in pumping the blood through the swollen joints which eases the pain and reduces stiffness. A hot pad could especially have a nice effect on your sore muscles.

Ending note

Doctors tend to treat every Rheumatoid Arthritis differently, since there is no direct medical cure for it. Nevertheless, your treatment would depend on the severity of your symptoms. Nevertheless, do remember that Rheumatoid Arthritis will not go away on its own. Rather, medication may be the only way to prevent the symptoms from flaring up. Otherwise, the condition may become worse. After that, it will simply start impacting your daily life. In case your symptoms are totally unmanageable, get an appointment from orthopedic surgeons Woodbridge right away! This is because only a doctor will be able to help you get relief.