Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Rheumatoid Arthritis 


  Chronic systemic disease disease characterized by inflammatory changes in joints and related structures, specifically synovial membrane.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Management:

  • bed rest during acute pain
  • cold application during acute pain; 20 minutes at a time - then followed by heat application
  • warm bath in the morning to relieve morning stiffness
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Pharmacotherapy:

  • Aspirin - mainstay of treatment (both analgesic and anti-inflammatory)
  • NSAIDs
  • Gold compounds - chrysotherapy

  Route: IM once a week

  Takes 3-6 months to become effective

  • corticosteroids - if pain becomes intolerable
• Rheumatoid Arthritis - Late Stage

  • Boutonniere - deformity of thumb
  • Swan-neck - deformity of fingers