Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hands

… Continued …

1. With the use of ring splints (finger splint) to support the affected fingers.
2. Surgery may be necessary to help realign the joints and improve the function.

In addition, there is also a complication of poorly-controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) called boutonniere deformity. The affected middle joint of a finger by boutonniere deformity will bend toward the palm, and the outer finger joint tends bend opposite the palm.

Splinting is also the common treatment option for boutonniere deformity. If necessary, surgery may be suggested, too.

While there is still no cure for the disease, but patients can control the disease with appropriate treatments. Even those with the disease for a decade or more can still take the benefit from aggressive treatment.

Some studies are continuously going to find the cure of the disease. Meanwhile, other treatments are available and going better to control and treat RA. Even some can help make the disease go into ‘off’ period (remission) for many years.

The pain medications to help cope with joint pain due to RA are available. But these medications are usually intended to treat the symptom, not the disease. To control the inflammatory effects of the disease, doctors often prescribe the aggressive medications such as DMARDs and biologic agent.

If you are first diagnosed with RA less than 2 years, see this section to get to know the important of taking initial appropriate treatment! See also lifestyle changes and home remedies to help control your RA in this post!

Again, RA is currently incurable but this doesn’t mean that there is nothing you can do. Instead, appropriate treatment is so crucial to control the inflammation and lower the risk of RA complications!