Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammation of connective tissue with predominant damage to the joints of the type of erosive-destructive progressive polyarthritis. In this article we will consider in detail the issues of treatment and manifestations of the disease at different stages. Special attention should be paid to the question of how to treat rheumatoid arthritis with folk remedies.
Main syndromes of the disease:
Symptoms of incipient rheumatoid arthritis
The earliest manifestations of the disease are:
morning stiffness in joints,
swelling of the joints lasting more than 1.5 months,
symmetry of damage to the joints of the hands as a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis;
rapid development of regional muscle atrophy as a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis,
the presence of subcutaneous regional nodules,
increase in the content of a- and y-globulins in the blood serum,
the presence of immunoglobulins in the blood serum,
presence of RF or phagocytes in blood serum or synovial serum,
increased concentration of cytological enzymes: acid phosphatase in lymphocytes and alkaline phosphatase in neutrophils, pronounced cytosis in synovial fluid (more than 12,000 cells per 1 mm3),
histologically detectable changes: increased proliferation of covering synovial cells, villous hypertrophy, foci of necrosis.
Manifestations of late rheumatoid arthritis
Late symptoms include:
radiologically detectable subchondral osteoporosis,
marginal usuration of the epiphyses,
persistent inflammatory changes in joints with the development of their deformation and contractures.
The intensity of pain largely depends on the degree of activity of the process. Currently, the disease is divided into 3 degrees.
Symptoms of the first degree disease
The first (low) degree of activity is diagnosed with intermittent joint pain that occurs only during movement, accompanied by morning stiffness lasting no more than 1 hour. Exudative changes in the joints are absent or insignificant. Laboratory indicators of inflammation are weakly expressed. ESR increased to 20 mm/h. Moderate gammaglobulinemia, rheumatoid factor can be detected only at small dilutions (1:3; 1:8).
Signs of rheumatoid arthritis of the second degree
The average degree of activity is characterized by persistent constant pain in the joints, accompanied by morning stiffness. The latter may decrease in the evening. There are distinct exudative changes in the joints against the background of proliferative processes. There are significant changes in the blood. ESR increased to 40 mm/h, pronounced gammaglobulinemia (22-23%). Rheumatoid factor is detected in the blood at a high dilution (1:81; 1:64).
Manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis of the third degree
Symptoms of this degree of activity include intense, constant pain in the joints, accompanied by stiffness throughout the day. Clinical manifestations of visceritis (pleuritis, myocarditis, neuritis) are detected. Pronounced exudative changes in the joints and a sharp inflammatory reaction of the blood with high RF titers.
Signs of arthritis in remission
Remission in rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed in the absence of joint pain and stiffness. Movements in the joints are limited only due to proliferative processes in the joints and periarticular tissues after previous exacerbations. Laboratory tests for inflammation do not give pathological abnormalities.
The complexity and lack of understanding of the mechanisms of disease development, the participation of many systems in the formation of the pathological process cause difficulties in treatment.
Degrees of functional insufficiency of the musculoskeletal system in rheumatoid arthritis
There are 3 degrees of functional insufficiency of the musculoskeletal system:
professional ability in grade I is limited,
at II degree - lost,
in grade III, the ability to self-care is lost.
If you suspect you have rheumatoid arthritis, a thorough physical examination and blood tests will help identify it. It is very important that this disease be treated by a rheumatologist who is well versed in diagnostic and treatment methods.
Forms of rheumatoid arthritis
The following clinical and anatomical forms of rheumatoid arthritis are distinguished.
The articular form (the most common) is manifested mainly by characteristic progressive damage to the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis with systemic manifestations - in this form, in addition to the typical articular syndrome, there is damage to internal organs.
The combined form includes rheumatoid arthritis, which develops in patients with other rheumatic diseases, most often deforming osteoarthritis or rheumatism.
According to the nature of the course, arthritis is divided into rapidly and slowly progressing and without noticeable progression.
Therapy of the disease is aimed at identifying and eliminating the causes that contribute to the exacerbation and progression of the disease. This should take into account:
clinical form of the disease,
degree of impairment of adaptive systems,
concomitant diseases and age of the patient.
Treatment with folk remedies plays an important role.
Treatment with folk remedies for rheumatoid arthritis
Very often people suffer from a disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Its manifestation is characterized by severe pain in the legs, which can be so terrible that it becomes difficult for a person to climb stairs or walk on uneven surfaces. And you can completely forget about high-heeled shoes. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, traditional methods give almost immediately tangible results and will allow you to forget about this unpleasant disease forever.
So, here are some of the most effective ways to help you get rid of pain.
The most effective, but slightly unpleasant folk remedy for rheumatoid arthritis. Yellow buttercup flowers will help you cure rheumatoid arthritis. True, after the compress, a burn will appear on the skin, which is accompanied by the appearance of blisters, but this will be the beginning of your recovery. To avoid large burns that will not go away soon, you should not leave the compress on overnight - a few hours will be enough.
It is done like this: you need to take a handful of buttercup flowers and grind them well so that they release the juice. Flowers need to be applied to the place that hurts, and the top should be carefully wrapped with polyethylene. Depending on the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, the compress should be kept for 1-2 hours. When blisters appear on the burned skin, under no circumstances should they be punctured; you must wait until they go away on their own. When using this method of treating rheumatoid arthritis, the pain will go away in less than a week.
Second treatment method.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the treatment of which is very successful with folk remedies, is also afraid of raw potatoes. To treat rheumatoid arthritis, it is necessary to make a miraculous infusion from it. True, the treatment time lasts a little longer than in the previous method, but the result is the same. To prepare a folk medicine, you need to take one raw potato and grate it. Mix the resulting pulp with a glass of kefir and take it daily for the first ten days. For the second ten days, the folk remedy is taken every other day, and for the third - every two days. In total, the course of treatment lasts two months. And it is best to take preventive measures after some time, as the pain may return.
The third method of treating rheumatoid arthritis with folk remedies.
The disease can also be treated with apple cider vinegar. In order to return to a normal way of life without illness, you need to take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 3-5 times a day, preferably before meals. The illness will go away within a month. True, this is provided that you have a healthy stomach. If you are diagnosed with gastritis or an ulcer, then it is better to take half a teaspoon of vinegar, despite the fact that the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with folk remedies will slow down. If apple cider vinegar is taken in large quantities, recovery from rheumatoid arthritis will occur very quickly and you will feel much better.
For arthritis, take 50g camphor, 50g mustard powder, 100g alcohol, 100g raw egg white. First dissolve camphor in alcohol, then mustard, beat the egg white separately. Mix both ingredients together. Rub into the sore joint in the evening before bed.
For arthritis, take a 20-minute bath with a decoction of the herb (50-100g per bucket of water). The raw materials are boiled in a sealed container for half an hour. Bath temperature 38°C. At the same time, it is very useful to consume succession tea internally. Also, fresh herbs or infusion (4 tablespoons per 5 glasses of water) are rubbed on inflamed joints.
Elderberry flowers, stinging nettle leaf, parsley root, willow bark (equal parts). Brew 1 tablespoon of the crushed collection with a glass of boiling water, boil for 5 minutes over low heat, cool, strain. Drink 2 glasses of decoction per day.
How to treat rheumatoid arthritis with drugs?
Patients are prescribed a diet with a balanced composition of amino acids, extended-release sulfonamides, nitrofuran and aminoquinoline drugs, gold preparations, Sulfasalazine, Salazopyridazine, Metronidazole, Intestopan, Quinidine, Nicodin, ascorbic acid and Ascorutin.
For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, antimalarial drugs that suppress the release of lysosomal enzymes, the formation of superoxide radicals, and leukocyte chemotaxis are also prescribed.
During periods of exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis, treatment is carried out with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - Voltaren (Diclofenac sodium), Acetylsalicylic acid, Capoxen, Piroxicam.
Swelling of the joints and their stiffness during the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are reduced with antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Diprazil, Tavegil).
To stimulate the immune system, antioxidants are used: Tocopherol, Retinol, Rutin, vitamin C, as well as aminocaproic acid, phyto-adaptogens (schisandra, eleutherococcus, golden root), Dibazol, Insulin.
To remove small immune complexes, it is advisable to use Immunoglobulin, Gamma globulin, and dry plasma.
Physical treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
Physical methods are used for:
reducing the activity of the pathological process,
weakening and disappearance of inflammatory phenomena in joint tissues (anti-inflammatory and reparative-regenerative methods),
pain relief (analgesic methods),
correction of immune dysfunction (immunosuppressive methods),
improving the metabolism of connective tissue and epiphyseal cartilage
and improving locomotor function (fibromodulating methods).
Can rheumatoid arthritis be cured?
Unfortunately, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that has not yet been overcome. Although it is rarely life-threatening, the constant pain literally drives people crazy.
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is not caused by “wear and tear” of tissues; it affects all age groups. Rheumatoid arthritis is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakes joint tissue for a foreign substance and tries to destroy it. This is a prime example of nature's error at its worst.
How to treat rheumatoid arthritis? Usually the only thing that can be done for a person with rheumatoid arthritis is to relieve pain in the joints of the feet and ankles. Doctors recommend custom-made shoes and pads that reduce stress on the affected metatarsophalangeal joints.
Injections of gold or Cortisone drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduce the level of discomfort, but do not cure the disease. The same can be said about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets and metatrexate, which is now preferred by many patients. Advances in modern surgery have made it possible to completely replace some joints, but it is only used in cases where joint deformity and pain do not allow the patient to lead a somewhat normal life. New drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, such as Remicade, have proven very successful in a series of tests. Unfortunately, this new family of drugs is extremely expensive and therefore unaffordable for many who need it.
The etiology and pathogenesis of the disease are still unknown, although the following etiological factors are suggested: genetic (in patients with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, a hereditary predisposition to impaired immunological reactivity has been established) and infectious agents (Epstein-Barr virus). In recent years, the role of mycobacteria in the development of the disease has been discussed. They express stress proteins that can cause arthritis.
Risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis are:
age over 45 years,
concomitant diseases (congenital defects of the osteoarticular system, nasopharyngeal infection).
Pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis
The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is based on autoimmune processes, the occurrence of which is facilitated by a deficiency of the T-suppressor function of lymphocytes. One of the etiological factors causes the development of an immune reaction. Damage to the joint begins with inflammation of the synovial membrane - synovitis, which then acquires a proliferative character with damage to cartilage and bones - pannus. The intensity and clinical type of the inflammatory process are determined by immune response genes.
Damage to joint tissue by immune complexes leads to further autoantibody formation and chronicity of the inflammatory process. Cytokines play a huge role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. They are produced primarily by cells of the immune system, bone marrow, fibroblasts, monocytes, platelets, and macrophages.
Endothelial cells, which regulate the processes of blood coagulation and platelet aggregation, vascular tone, immunoinflammatory reactions, synthesize cytokines, and participate in all phases of acute and chronic inflammation, are also of great importance in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Under the influence of an autoimmune inflammatory process, granulation tissue is formed, originating from the inflamed synovial membrane. It consists of fibroblasts, lymphocytes, macrophages and is rich in blood vessels. The pannus penetrates the cartilage from the synovial tissue and destroys it through the action of enzymes induced by the production of cytokines within the pannus itself. Gradually, the cartilage is replaced by granulation tissue, it disappears, and ankylosis develops. Chronic inflammation of the periarticular tissues, joint capsules, ligaments, tendons leads to joint deformities, subluxations, and contractures.
It is currently believed that autoimmune processes play a leading role in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, and in the later stages non-immune mechanisms are important, i.e. the ability of pannus to grow, invade and destroy articular cartilage.
Today, one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases is autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis. Recent data indicate that about 1.2% of the world's population suffers from this rheumatic disease. Constant pain in the joints, pathological changes in their shape and progressive limitation of functionality are the main manifestations of the disease, which affect the patient’s overall quality of life and can cause early disability.
As a rule, the prognosis is quite unfavorable. Almost every second patient receives disability in the first 5 years of the disease. At the same time, with the rapid occurrence of systemic manifestations, life expectancy is significantly reduced.
No matter how hard scientists tried, they were unable to determine the true cause of the autoimmune disease arthritis. Many experts suggest that different strains of viruses play some role in the development of joint pathology. Similar conclusions were made based on the fact that 80% of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis had antibodies (specific immunoglobulins in the blood) to the Epstein-Barr virus. In addition, one cannot write off a genetic predisposition to the appearance of an autoimmune inflammatory process that affects joints and other organs.
If left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can result in premature disability.
In most cases, in the initial stages of the development of rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms of joint damage dominate the clinical picture. Painful sensations in the small joints of the arms and/or legs have been noted. In some patients, many symptoms may disappear without special treatment. However, after some time, the inflammatory process resumes and has a pronounced course. Typical clinical symptoms of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis:
Rheumatologists are considered the leading experts in the field of joint pathology.
Quite often, with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune inflammatory process affects not only the joints, but also many other organs, leading to the occurrence of concomitant diseases. Let us note the most common extra-articular manifestations of pathology:
A complete diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis includes a thorough clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination. Early detection of rheumatic pathology helps to significantly slow down the progression of the disease and improve the patient’s quality of life. The main diagnostic methods that may be applicable are:
Radiography plays a fundamental role in the correct diagnosis of articular pathology. An early characteristic radiological symptom of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis is the detection of osteoporosis in the area of the articular surfaces of the bones. In addition, radiography can detect the following pathological disorders:
Based on the data obtained from clinical, laboratory and instrumental examinations, it is possible to determine the degree and severity of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis and prescribe the optimal course of treatment.
Laboratory diagnostic criteria are no less important than the results of x-ray examination. Most analyzes must be carried out over time to assess the effectiveness of treatment. The main indicators of greatest diagnostic value:
If radiography is not enough to assess the condition of the affected joints, they resort to more modern methods such as ultrasound examination and magnetic resonance imaging. It should be recognized that today MRI is considered the most accurate and informative diagnostic method.
As with most joint diseases, treatment of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis requires a comprehensive, consistent and systematic approach. What therapeutic measures are often used:
You can add various folk remedies to the main therapeutic course, but only with the permission of your attending physician.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help cope with the leading clinical symptoms of the disease (pain, inflammation, etc.). If there are no contraindications or allergic reaction, the following types of NSAIDs can be prescribed:
Long-term therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is usually accompanied by a number of side effects. The digestive system suffers the most. To avoid the appearance of erosions and ulcers in the stomach and small intestine, it is recommended to take Omeprazole, Lanzap, misoprostol and other medications that can protect the mucous membrane of the digestive organs.
If there is a sharp exacerbation of an autoimmune disease, then treatment is intensified with the use of glucocorticosteroid drugs. The basis for their prescription is an overly pronounced inflammatory process, severe systemic manifestations, lack of effect from NSAIDs or the inability to use them. Less than 24 hours after the start of glucocorticosteroid therapy, improvement is observed. It is worth noting that if the drugs are administered intravenously, the therapeutic effect appears within a few hours.
Long-term clinical studies have shown that treatment of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis with basic drugs must begin as soon as the diagnosis is made. These medications most effectively suppress inflammation, achieve remission and stop destructive processes in the joints. However, basic drugs have quite a lot of side effects, so it is necessary to monitor vision, blood counts, functional state of internal organs, etc. Basic therapy includes the use of the following medications:
The drugs begin to work 70–90 days after the start of treatment. The maximum effect is expected after approximately 6 months. To enhance the effect, drugs from different pharmacological groups are often combined. A relatively new direction in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis is the use of anti-cytokine therapy. Infliximab is most often used in combination with Methotrexate.
Ignoring your doctor’s prescriptions inevitably leads to a lot of unpleasant consequences.
In some cases, with severe joint damage, it is impossible to do without local therapy. To reduce inflammation, intra-articular administration of glucocorticosteroids is used. Diprospan has proven itself well. Among the alternative drugs, Kenalog or Depo-Medrol should be noted. Glucocorticosteroids are allowed to be injected into the affected joint no more than once every 3 months.
Many patients note a significant improvement after using a compress with Dimexide and other medications, for example, Novocaine, Analgin, Hydrocortisone, etc. As a rule, 12–15 procedures are prescribed. If necessary, the therapeutic course can be repeated. If intense pain is observed, it is recommended to use various external agents containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ointments, gels, creams).
In the subacute and chronic course of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis, physiotherapeutic treatment may be prescribed. Taking into account the clinical effect, the following types of physiotherapy are used:
In the absence of contraindications and unwanted side effects, various types of physiotherapy are combined. On average, the therapeutic course can last 10–14 days. I would like to remind you that during an exacerbation of the disease, massage and physical activity are unacceptable.
Severe joint deformities force doctors to resort to surgical treatment methods. In addition, with regular inflammation of the synovial membrane of the affected joints, it is justified to recommend surgical intervention to remove it. If possible, they try to restore the damaged joint using arthroplasty.
In case of severe severity of the disease, endoprosthetics is used. This operation allows you to replace the destroyed joint with an artificial analogue. Innovative prostheses installed by a highly qualified surgeon enable the patient not only to remain active in everyday life, but also to return to professional activity, of course, if it is not associated with high physical load on the joint. Today they are engaged in the restoration of both large and small joints.
Unfortunately, it is worth recognizing that with the available capabilities of modern medicine, it is impossible to achieve a complete recovery. The main goal of rheumatologists is to ensure long-term remission and prevent the progression of autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis. If treatment is not started in a timely manner and the forms of the disease are advanced, the prognosis will often be unfavorable.
If there is progression of joint destruction, damage to internal organs and ineffectiveness of treatment with basic drugs, then one cannot count on a favorable outcome of the disease. However, early detection of articular pathology and promptly initiated therapy increases the patient’s chances of maintaining a more or less normal quality of life and preventing premature disability.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common chronic joint disease of non-traumatic origin. This severe autoimmune disease occurs in 6-19 children out of one hundred thousand, and 50% of them are children under 5 years of age. The incidence of girls is 2-3 times higher than boys. Against the background of joint damage, the autoimmune process also develops in the internal organs and leads to irreversible consequences. This disease is also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (hereinafter referred to as JRA).
Attention to this disease is explained by its severe consequences: rheumatoid arthritis leads to secondary dwarfism (delayed growth and development of the child) and early disability due to the irreversible consequences of the disease. That is why it is important to recognize the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis in time and carry out the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
Currently, the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not clear. The process is based on an immunological failure, as a result of which antibodies are produced to the body’s own joint cells - they are perceived as foreign and are destroyed. The immune response has a complex mechanism. Initially, the process is localized only in the synovial membrane, which lines the joint cavity: an inflammatory process develops, microcirculation is disrupted. And then the resulting antibodies cause damage to all tissues and structures of the joint.
Provoking factors for the development of the disease may be:
In young children, rheumatoid arthritis occurs in the articular-visceral or articular form.
The course of rheumatoid arthritis can be acute, subacute and chronic.
The articular-visceral form has an acute course, the articular (monoarthritis) has a subacute course. The chronic course of JRA in children is rare.
In the acute course, manifestations of pathological changes in the internal organs appear first against the background of severe intoxication, and only then do signs of inflammation of the joints appear.
In the subacute course, the function of the joint is initially impaired, and only then do signs of inflammation of the joint appear. Lack of treatment during this period is the reason for the transition of the subacute process to acute: the articular-visceral or generalized articular form of rheumatoid arthritis develops.
This form occurs in 65-70% of cases of JRA. It develops gradually, often starting with damage to one large joint - the ankle or knee (monoarthritis develops in 10% of cases). During the course of the disease, after a few weeks the same joint on the other side becomes inflamed. A distinctive feature of the disease is the symmetry of damage to large joints.
There is marked swelling of the joint; gait is disturbed, children begin to limp. Particularly characteristic is stiffness in the morning (in the case of inflammation of large joints), which gradually decreases or disappears completely during the day. Morning stiffness is one of the hallmark diagnostic signs of rheumatoid arthritis. However, in young patients it is not always possible to track it.
For children, damage to large joints is more common, although small joints of the fingers and toes may also be affected. In this case, children stop playing, dressing themselves, and eating on their own. Children may stop walking and refuse to put on shoes if their toe joints are affected. The ability to self-service is lost, previously acquired skills are lost.
Oligoarticular variant of the disease: not one, but several (2-4) large joints are simultaneously and asymmetrically affected. The disease manifests itself as moderate joint pain at normal temperature and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Specific eye damage in the articular form of rheumatoid arthritis in children often leads to decreased visual acuity or loss of vision.
The articular form has a benign course with infrequent exacerbations. Despite the slow progression of the disease, in the future it still leads to joint deformation. They acquire a spherical or spindle-shaped shape, and impaired mobility in the joints increases.
Atrophied muscles and sclerotic changes in the periarticular tissues (tendons and ligaments) lead to the development of contractures (severe limitation of mobility in the joint). The joints can be fixed in any position; Dislocations and subluxations of joints and deformities of the limbs may occur.
The articular-visceral form is the most severe form of rheumatoid arthritis in children. It is characterized by the following symptoms: acute onset, high fever, marked enlargement of the lymph nodes, enlargement of the spleen and liver, severe pain in the joints, severe swelling and redness. Allergic rashes may appear. In the acute phase of the disease, the pain can be so severe that even a light touch (for example, a sheet) causes severe pain. When the activity of the process decreases, pain occurs only when feeling the joint and when moving.
Characteristic is symmetrical damage to large joints, but small joints can also be involved in the process. For the articular-visceral form, damage to the joints of the spine in the cervical region is typical; maxillofacial joints and the sternoclavicular joint can also be affected. Not only active, but also passive movements are limited. Rapid progression of the disease leads to permanent impairment of limb function.
Signs of autoimmune damage to internal organs often appear with symptoms of severe intoxication and complications. Involvement of internal organs in the pathological process is associated with the development of rheumatoid vasculitis (inflammation of small vessels). Damage to the heart is manifested by myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), kidney damage - glomerulonephritis and renal amyloidosis. Diseases of the lungs in the form of diffuse pneumosclerosis, pleura in the form of pleurisy are rare. General amyloidosis of internal organs may also develop.
It can take the form of:
The disease does not have specific symptoms in the early stages, so diagnosing it during this period is difficult. Although the disease is based on an autoimmune process, a laboratory indicator (rheumatoid factor) is not detected in 50% of cases in JRA.
For diagnosis, doctors use a number of clinical, radiological, and laboratory indicators.
Ultrasound examination (US) is highly informative for early diagnosis of the disease. It can reveal characteristic changes even when there are no radiological signs yet.
Computed tomography helps clarify visceral changes.
Other diagnostic methods are also used: electrocardiography (ECG), fundus examination, bacteriological cultures, Mantoux test and others.
Treatment of children should begin immediately after diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis: only in this way can the inflammatory process and rapid progression of the disease be slowed down, and the prognosis for a quick recovery can be improved.
Complex treatment should be carried out over a long period of time in stages: not only in the acute (or subacute) period, but also during the period of remission. Treatment is carried out in a hospital, in a clinic and in a sanatorium. The treatment is aimed at reducing the activity of the pathological process and preventing relapses. Slowing down the dysfunction of joints will prevent early disability of the patient and improve his quality of life.
The following are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include Aspirin, Indomethacin, Butadione, Voltaren, Brufen. In some cases, a combination of these drugs is used. In order to reduce the risk of side effects from the digestive tract, drugs are used in the form of capsules and suppositories. These are quick-acting drugs: they can cope with inflammation and eliminate pain, but cannot prevent further destruction of the joints. Immunosuppressants (slow-acting drugs) slow down the destruction process.
The choice of drug, its dosage and duration of treatment is determined by the doctor. For prolonged fever, preference is given to Indomethacin - it has a pronounced antipyretic effect. Voltaren, with relatively low toxicity and side effects, has a good anti-inflammatory effect. When the activity of the process is low, more often in the articular form, Brufen and Ibuprofen are prescribed; they also have minimal toxicity.
Corticosteroid drugs are prescribed to children only in very severe cases with articular-visceral form and generalized articular process. In some cases, hormonal drugs are combined with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is not advisable to use hormonal drugs orally before the child reaches the age of five. In some cases, intra-articular administration of corticosteroid drugs is used.
The basis of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is the use of immunosuppressants. The prognosis of the disease depends on their effectiveness. Immunosuppressive therapy is prescribed immediately upon diagnosis. The course of treatment should be continuous and long-term: even during the period of remission, children should take maintenance doses to prevent relapse of the disease.
Immunosuppressants include derivatives of the 4-aminoquinoline series (Delagil, Plaquenil), which reduce the level of circulating antibodies and immune complexes. The effect of the drugs is observed from the 4th week of use, and maximum effectiveness is observed after 4-6 months. During treatment, systematic monitoring by the ophthalmologist is necessary to exclude side effects of the drugs.
Gold preparations also have an immunosuppressive effect: an oil suspension (Crizanol) or an aqueous solution (Sanocresin), but their use for the treatment of children is limited due to severe toxic-allergic side reactions.
In some cases, together with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, another main drug is prescribed - Cuprenil or D-penicillamine. It acts on immunocompetent cells, helps reduce the level of rheumatoid factor and the degree of fibrotic changes in organs and tissues. Effectiveness appears after 2-3 weeks, the course of treatment lasts several months.
In case of excessive immunological activity of the inflammatory process and in case of ineffectiveness of the main therapy with immunosuppressants, in the allergic-septic variant of the disease, cytostatics are prescribed: Azathioprine, Leukeran, 6-Mercaptopurine and other chemotherapeutic agents. Treatment with these drugs is carried out in a hospital setting.
For rheumatoid arthritis, intra-articular administration of not only corticosteroids, but also cytostatics and drugs that cause coagulation of the synovial membrane (superficial necrosis) is also used. Such drugs include Varicocid.
In a later period, various physiotherapeutic methods are included in the treatment: phototherapy, treatment with currents, paraffin, mud. The doctor selects a treatment method individually for each child, depending on the form and stage of the process.
During remission, the following are used: massage, physical therapy and sanatorium-resort balneological treatment to restore joint function.
Parents should not get carried away with folk remedies, as they rarely bring relief from this aggressive disease. And delaying treatment using classical medicine methods can be very expensive: irreversible changes will occur in the child’s body.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe autoimmune disease that leads to disability. This disease has been described and known for a long time, new drugs have appeared to treat it, but there have been no significant successes in healing such patients. And the disease “gets younger,” that is, it begins to appear at a younger age. What's new in the treatment of this disease? Is rheumatoid arthritis an infectious disease ?
I read about this in an article by Dr. Mercola.
1. In 1989, Dr. Mercola became acquainted with the treatment protocol for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) developed by Dr. Brown (after the publication of his book).
2. Dr. Mercola began using Dr. Brown's treatment protocol for RA patients, but made significant changes to it during the process.
3. The very first change that Dr. Mercola made was to use a different antibiotic rather than tetracycline to treat this disease. But I will write about this later, in an article about the treatment of RA.
4 . Is rheumatoid arthritis an infectious disease?
I was diagnosed with RA a long time ago. Over the years, I have had consultations and been treated by many doctors and even at the Institute of Rheumatology in Moscow.
But not a single doctor told me that mycoplasmas could be to blame for the appearance of this disease.
1) Back in the early 1900s, Dr. A.Ya. Sabin (he is the discoverer of the polio vaccine) first reported that chronic arthritis in mice is caused by mycoplasmas.
2) They suggested that this infectious agent can cause RA in humans.
3) Who is Dr. Brown? Why and on what basis did he write a book about the infectious nature of RA?
What is known about Dr. Brown?
1) During his work (from the 1950s until his death in 1989), he helped more than 10,000 patients with RA.
2) Even more patients were cured of RA by other doctors who used his treatment protocol.
3) Dr. Mercola writes that this treatment is not simple and on average takes from one to two years.
4) Dr. Mercola treated about 3,000 patients and found that changes in diet speeded up treatment by several months.
5) Although he admits that in many cases, treating the infection can take about 30 months to achieve lasting improvement.
6) After starting treatment for this infection, patients with rheumatoid arthritis may experience a temporary deterioration in health (from 2 to 6 months).
7) When treated according to Dr. Brown's protocol, such symptoms of deterioration in health after the start of treatment were longer lasting than under Dr. Mercola's protocol.
"8)" There are now more than 200 citations of medical literature reviews supporting the use of Minocin for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
9) In Dr. Mercola's personal experience, almost 80% of patients had improvement when treated with his protocol, but 5% of patients did not improve and needed to return to the usual method of treatment with methotrexate.
10) He writes that there are many factors that are associated with increased remission or improvement.
He lists a number of these factors:
1) The younger the patient, the greater the likelihood of improvement,
2) The more you stick to your eating plan, the more likely you are to improve and the less likely it is to have a serious attack.
3) Smoking is negatively associated with all types of improvement.
4) The longer a person has a disease, the more difficult and difficult it is to treat.
5) Although Dr. Mercola has been reviewing the use of antibiotics to treat RA for more than ten years, he believes that the patient's attention should first be focused on natural methods of treatment.
No one doubts that autoimmune processes in the body play a very important role in the progression of RA.
But most researchers believe that there is an infection in the body that causes RA.
Researchers suggest that these infectious agents may be:
But in this article we will only talk about information related to the influence of mycoplasma on the appearance of RA.
What are mycoplasmas?
What does Wikipedia say about them?
“Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria of the Mycoplasma class (Mollicutes) that do not have a cell wall. Representatives of the species can be parasitic or saprotrophic. Several species are pathogenic in humans, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is a contributor to SARS and other respiratory illnesses, and Mycoplasma genitalium, which is thought to be involved in pelvic inflammatory disease."
1. Mycoplasmas differ from classical bacteria:
In foreign literature they are considered as human parasites.
2. It is difficult for scientists to conduct research with mycoplasmas because:
1) They are difficult to isolate from human and animal tissues,
2) They require complex environments to grow.
3. And, nevertheless, to date, 31 types of mycoplasmas have already been isolated and known.
4. Despite the difficulties, many researchers have successfully isolated mycoplasmas from the synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
5. British researchers found that two thirds of RA patients are infected with Mycoplasma Fermentens.
These results are impressive because the most common are Mycoplasma salivarium, ovalis and hominis pneumonia.
6. RA may appear after certain respiratory infections caused by mycoplasmas.
7. These infections may be associated with positive rheumatoid factor.
This provides additional information on mycoplasma as an etiological agent of RA.
8. Genital mycoplasma infections also cause septic arthritis.
9 . Mycoplasmas can cause experimental arthritis in animals after infection with them, in a period of time from three days to several months.
10. There is some degree of similarity between these infections in animals and rheumatoid arthritis in humans.
11. Mycoplasmas cause chronic arthritis in various experimental animals: rats, mice, birds, pigs, sheep, goats, cows and rabbits.
Experts have no doubt that arthritis is a direct result of blood infection with mycoplasmas.
Have you ever heard information that mycoplasmas can be the “culprit” of RA?
I have had this disease for 16 years, but doctors have never told me about its possible infectious nature. And you?
Now you need to look for a laboratory where you can perform an analysis for different types of mycoplasma in order to exclude or confirm their presence in the body.
After all, “blindly”, without tests, it is stupid and unsafe to start long-term treatment with antibiotics.
Moreover, during and after treatment it is necessary to repeat tests to monitor the progress and result of treatment.
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