Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
From RA & You, publication of the Arthritis Foundation:
EARLY AGRESSIVE TREATMENT : Goal is to reduce or stop inflammation as quickly as possible - the earlier, the better.
TREAT-To-TARGET APPROACH: Doctors refer to inflammation in RA as disease activity and the ultimate goal is to stop it - meaning no signs or symptoms of active inflammation (remission). This goal may be defined as having no symptoms or feeling the way you did before RA.
TIGHT CONTROL: If reducing disease activity to zero isn't possible, getting disease activity to a low level and keeping it there is the goal. This is called tight control of RA. Rsearch shows that tight control can prevent or slow the pace of joint damage.
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NOTE: None of these approaches talk about merely treating the pain, but rather the underling cause of the pain - the inflammation. Only by keeping the inflammation at bay do you stop the progression of the disease which is permanent joint damage and deformities.
EARLY AGRESSIVE TREATMENT : Goal is to reduce or stop inflammation as quickly as possible - the earlier, the better.
TREAT-To-TARGET APPROACH: Doctors refer to inflammation in RA as disease activity and the ultimate goal is to stop it - meaning no signs or symptoms of active inflammation (remission). This goal may be defined as having no symptoms or feeling the way you did before RA.
TIGHT CONTROL: If reducing disease activity to zero isn't possible, getting disease activity to a low level and keeping it there is the goal. This is called tight control of RA. Rsearch shows that tight control can prevent or slow the pace of joint damage.
----------------------------
NOTE: None of these approaches talk about merely treating the pain, but rather the underling cause of the pain - the inflammation. Only by keeping the inflammation at bay do you stop the progression of the disease which is permanent joint damage and deformities.
Thank you for this information.
I wish Peace to you
Bluedogs2
Anyone who wants to see the effects of lack of agressive treatment, see my hand photos an read my story at:
http://RA-SS.blogspot.com
It's CRITICAL to stop the progression of the disease BEFORE you experience joint deformity....though I don't think you could or would experience deformity without pain...
Thank you so much for providing the link to your site. I am truly sorry for all that you have gone through, but appreciate the inspirational message.
My rheumy sometimes says things that I do not fully comprehend at the time. One of these was that I was lucky to have been diagnosed at my age (61). Again, now I understand!
Best regards and HUGS!
It is much appreciated!!!
Peace
Bluedogs2
(insert fangs and claws here) LOL
RASally - great link, thanks!