Treatment

The goals in the treatment of RA are to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, maintain function, and prevent joint deformities. Medications are required to control pain and diminish inflammation. Other components of therapy include an appropriate mixture of rest and gentle exercise, as well as physical therapy and protection of the joints.

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People with RA also must pay special attention to combating fatigue, which can be the most incapacitating feature of the disease. Also, developing strategies to cope with the emotional and psychological factors associated with RA also is a key part of treatment. People with arthritis have especially high rates of depression. About 20 percent of people with RA are depressed, compared with 2 percent to 3 percent of men and 5 percent to 9 percent of women in the general population.

This section has more on:

• Rest
• Braces, splints, and assistive devices
• Exercise
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Anti-rheumatic drugs
• New drug treatments
• Prosorba column
• Surgery
• Alternative and complementary treatments
• Treating depression
• Are vaccines safe for people with arthritis?