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.
If you guys missed it like I did here's the link again: http://ra-ss.blogspot.com/p/30-years-of-ra.html
Very eye opening for sure. Thanks RASS!
Thanks to both of you,
Nancy
Islandjac, you kidding me? No offense but your MIL is way off the mark. The key word for RA treatment should be "preventative".
You don't wait til the damage Is done. Which brings to Bethie's questions.
I wish I had some answers but so many doctors decide on course of treatment based on labs & what they can visibly see. It's crazy my feet have deformed in such a short time yet my labs are peachy & obviously the swelling was of no concern or not enough for my Rhuemy.
Thanks be to god for my pain management doctor. I'm serious I thank god he listens & realizes pain exists without the dang labs.
I take pictures on any bad days now, any swelling or changes. It can be different day to day but I want my doctor to see just what's happening no matter what the labs say. I'm looking for a new doctor. May take time but I want one who listens to me.
If your not happy maybe consider another doctor may be a better fit.
I understand prednisone should not be long term but there should be options to help on the bad days.
I wish I had better answers for you.
Blessings & thanks again for the info.
Sammy