1. What is the most commonly used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is mainly concerned with inflammation of the joints. Treatment options like surgery, physiotherapy and use of medications are available, of which the use of anti-inflammatory medicines, followed by steroidal drugs and the use of medicines like methotrexate and leflunomide for prevention of permanent tissue damage is the most commonly used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
2. Can rheumatoid arthritis be permnanently cured?
Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be permanently cured. The damage to the tissue can be minimised with the use of preventive measures and medications. Overall, the pain can be minimised but the disease cannot be cured completely.
3. What types of medications are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Corticosteroids like prednisolone may also be used. Medicines like methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine that prevent permanent tissue damage, biological agents like adalimumab and anakinra are also used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
4. What are biologic agents?
Biological agents are a recently discovered newer category of drugs which are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and are derived from nature. They include drugs like adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, sarilumab and tofacitinib. These drugs have severe side effects, hence they should be used along with the available non-biological agents.
5. Is surgery a better option than rheumatoid arthritis medications?
Surgical treatments may involve removal of the inflammed joint lining, fusing the inflammed joint, replacing the damaged joints or may also involve repair of the tissues which connect the bones to the muscles. This procedure has a risk of severe bleeding, infection and pain. Thus surgery is by no way a better option, however, when no other treatment works surgery is the only option for treatment.