Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment in Chennai
Rheumatoidarthritis(RA)isachronicautoimmunedisorderthatprimarilyaffectsjoints,causing inflammation,pain,andeventuallyjointdamage.AtBharathOrthopaedicsinChennai,a multifacetedapproachis adoptedtomanageandtreatRA,ensuringpatientsreceivethebest possiblecaretoimprovetheirqualityoflife.Thisguideprovidesanin-depthlookatthevarious treatmentmodalitiesandstrategiesemployedatBharathOrthopaedics.
UnderstandingRheumatoidArthritis
RAoccurswhentheimmunesystemmistakenlyattacksthebody'stissues,particularlythe synovium—theliningofthemembranesthatsurroundthejoints.Thisresultsininflammation thatcandamagethecartilageandbonewithinthejoint.RAcanaffectotherpartsofthebody, includingtheskin,eyes,lungs,heart,andbloodvessels,makingitasystemicdisease.
SymptomsandDiagnosis
SymptomsofRAincludejointpain,stiffness(particularlyinthemorningorafterperiodsof inactivity),swelling,andtenderness.Othersystemicsymptomsmayincludefatigue,fever,and weightloss.DiagnosingRAinvolvesacombinationofmedicalhistory,physicalexamination, laboratorytests(suchasbloodtestsforrheumatoidfactorandanti-citrullinatedprotein antibodies),andimagingstudies(likeX-rays,MRI,orultrasound)toassesstheextentofjoint damage.
TreatmentApproachesatBharathOrthopaedics
1.MedicationManagement
Disease-ModifyingAntirheumaticDrugs(DMARDs): DMARDsarethecornerstoneofRA treatment,aimedatslowingtheprogressionofthediseaseandsavingjoints andothertissues frompermanentdamage.Methotrexateiscommonlyusedasafirst-linetreatment.
BiologicAgents:ForpatientswhodonotrespondadequatelytoDMARDs,biologicagentsmay beprescribed.Thesedrugstargetspecificcomponentsoftheimmunesystemthatfuel inflammation,suchastumornecrosisfactor(TNF)inhibitors,interleukin-6(IL-6)inhibitors,and B-celldepletingagents.
JanusKinase(JAK)Inhibitors: Thesearenewermedicationsthatblockthepathwaysinvolved intheinflammatoryprocessofRA.Theyareusedwhenpatientsdonotrespondwellto DMARDsorbiologics.
NonsteroidalAnti-InflammatoryDrugs(NSAIDs)andCorticosteroids: NSAIDshelpreduce painandinflammationbutdonotpreventjointdamage.Corticosteroidscanbeusedforshorttermreliefofacutesymptomsbutarenotsuitableforlong-termuseduetopotentialsideeffects.
2.PhysicalTherapy
PhysicaltherapyisacrucialcomponentofRAmanagement.TherapistsatBharathOrthopaedics workwithpatientstodesignpersonalizedexerciseprogramsthathelpmaintainjointflexibility, musclestrength,andoverallphysicalfunction.Techniquessuchasultrasoundtherapy,heatand coldtherapy,andtherapeuticexercisesareemployedtoreducepainandimprovemobility.
3.LifestyleModifications
DietaryRecommendations:Abalanceddietrichinanti-inflammatoryfoodsisrecommended forRApatients.Foodssuchasfruits,vegetables,wholegrains,fattyfish(richinomega-3fatty acids),nuts,andseedscanhelpmanageinflammation.Patientsareadvisedtoavoidprocessed foods,sugarybeverages,andexcessiveredmeat,whichcanexacerbateinflammation.
RegularExercise:Engaginginregularphysicalactivityhelpsmaintainjointfunctionand reducesstiffness.Low-impactexercisessuchasswimming,cycling,andwalkingare encouraged.Yogaandtaichicanalsoimproveflexibilityandreducestress.
StressManagement:ChronicstresscanworsenRAsymptoms.Techniquessuchas mindfulness,meditation,anddeep-breathingexercisescanhelpmanagestressandimprove overallwell-being.
SmokingCessation:SmokingisknowntoincreasetheriskofdevelopingRAandcanmakethe diseasemoresevere.Patientsarestronglyencouragedtoquitsmokingtoimprovetheirhealth outcomes.
AdvancedTreatmentOptions
1.JointInjections
Forpatientswithseverejointinflammation,corticosteroidinjectionsdirectlyintotheaffected jointcanproviderapidrelief.Theseinjectionsareusuallyadministered whenothertreatmentsdo notadequatelycontrolsymptoms.
2.SurgicalInterventions
Incaseswherejointdamageissevereandsignificantlyimpairsfunction,surgicaloptionsmaybe considered.ProceduresofferedatBharathOrthopaedicsinclude:
Synovectomy:Thisinvolvestheremovaloftheinflamedsynoviumtoreducepainandimprove jointfunction.
TendonRepair:Tendonsaroundjointscanbecomedamagedduetoinflammation.Tendon repairsurgeryhelpsrestorefunction.
JointReplacementSurgery: ForjointsseverelydamagedbyRA,totaljointreplacement(such askneeorhipreplacement)canbeperformedtorelievepainandimprovefunction.




