by Richard Bramante

Created on: February 17, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

A Laymen's View of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Let me start by saying that my opinions on Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment have been formed as a caregiver to my wife who suffered greatly from this disease. Long term it is a debilitating disease if it is not totally arrested. My wife had a very aggressive form of the disease and she was not fortunate enough to find a remedy to put her arthritis into remission. Treatment can range from taking an aspirin to drugs which require infusion. Some of the drugs come along with side effects and require monitoring due to possible effects on Liver function, etc. This article is written in hopes that what I have learned from my experiences in seeking treatment for my wife may help someone who is either afflicted with the disease or is a care provider for a victim of this insidious disease. This is not a disease to be taken lightly and as other diseases it is best if it is detected early and treated properly. If neglected this disease will rob you of your vitality and eventually your life, it may not kill directly like a cancer can but it saps your strength and makes you vulnerable to other complications which may become life threatening.

There are two major forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is usually the form of arthritis that everyone that hears the word "arthritis" equates to. This form of arthritis is from normal wear and tear of the joints over many years or possibly through injury. It is equated to being elderly due to the number of years it takes for the joints to wear out. However, rheumatoid arthritis has no age boundaries and is the number one crippler of children since the discovery of the Salk vaccine for the prevention of polio. Where osteoarthritis is from the normal mechanics of the body of wear, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that not only attacks the joints of the body but also the internal organs of the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease similar to that of Lupus. The treatment of RA today is primarily symptomatic where the joints become inflamed with associated stiffness and pain. The trigger for someone developing RA has not been established. Researchers have been looking for the cause and although there are a number of theories there is no definitive answer of why someone would develop RA while others do not. In my wife's case she was one of four siblings and the only one to develop RA.

If RA is unchecked or is unable to be ceased it will totally

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>