Severe rheumatoid arthritis, these methods can treat

Rheumatoid arthritis is a relatively common connective tissue inflammation, which is generally divided into two types: acute or chronic. Rheumatoid arthritis can easily limit movement. There are many ways to treat rheumatoid arthritis, including taking medication and taking corticosteroids.

treat

1. Anti-rheumatic treatment

The principle of treatment is early diagnosis and early, reasonable, combined medication. Commonly used anti-rheumatic drugs are as follows:

(1) Salicylic acid preparations are the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of acute rheumatic fever and have definite efficacy. Aspirin is the drug of choice. It can reduce fever, relieve inflammation, improve joint symptoms, and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate. However, it cannot eliminate the basic pathological changes of rheumatism, nor can it prevent heart damage and other complications.

Salicylic acid preparations often cause stomach irritation symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, which can be relieved by taking aluminum hydroxide. For those who cannot tolerate salicylic acid preparations, clofenamic acid can be used.

(2) Adrenal cortex hormones Corticosteroids are not necessary drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It should only be considered in patients with arthritis who have evidence of carditis and who are inadequately responding to salicylic acid preparations.

2. Anti-streptococcal infection

Eradicating streptococcal infection is an essential measure for treating rheumatic fever. The preferred drug is penicillin. For those who are allergic to penicillin, erythromycin or acetylspiramycin can be used instead.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to the category of arthralgia in traditional Chinese medicine. In the acute phase, it is advisable to dispel wind, clear heat and resolve dampness. In the chronic phase, it is advisable to dispel wind, disperse cold and resolve dampness, which can play an auxiliary role in alleviating symptoms.

prevention

Pay attention to joint exercise during the inactive period, keep the joints warm and avoid moisture; remove the streptococcal infection foci in the body to prevent recurrence. If tonsillitis recurs, tonsillectomy can be performed; after rheumatic activity is controlled, 1.2 million units of long-acting penicillin should be injected intramuscularly every 2 to 4 weeks; seek medical attention immediately when suffering from acute pharyngitis to avoid recurrence.

complication

During the acute pain period of rheumatoid arthritis patients, long-term bed rest or taking hormones for too long may cause the patient's immune function to be weakened and cause some complications. The most common ones are as follows:

1. Pneumonia

Due to decreased immunity and bacterial infection, patients often suffer from pneumonia.

2. Urinary tract infection

If patients with rheumatoid arthritis do not pay attention to their daily lives or catch a cold, they are prone to urinary tract infections.

3. Cushing syndrome

If patients use hormones for too long, they may develop Cushing's syndrome due to suppression of adrenal cortex function. Common symptoms include moon face, buffalo hump, and weight gain.

4. Oral ulcers

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often develop oral ulcers after taking immunosuppressants. In addition, they may also experience adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, anorexia, rash, and loss of taste.

5. Infectious diseases

Because patients have suffered from the disease for too long and their immune function has declined, they are more susceptible to infection than normal people when certain infectious diseases are prevalent in society.