How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?

Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
Updated on March 17, 2025
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The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is divided into general treatment and pharmacological treatment.

General treatment mainly involves avoiding overexertion, having a light diet, and not staying up late.

Pharmacological treatment is mainly divided into treatment during the acute flare-up phase and the remission phase. The acute phase focuses on anti-inflammatory and pain relief treatments, with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as the first choice, such as etoricoxib, meloxicam, or celecoxib. If the effect is not satisfactory, low-dose corticosteroid therapy may be combined.

In the remission phase, slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs are preferred, such as methotrexate, leflunomide, or sulfasalazine. If the slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs are not effective, biologic agents such as tumor necrosis factor antagonists or JAK inhibitors may be combined.

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Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as an autoimmune disease and is a chronic autoimmune condition that is destructive to joints. It is primarily characterized by symmetric polyarthritis, with clinical manifestations varying significantly among individuals. Most cases begin gradually, initially presenting with symmetrical pain and swelling in the wrists. This often accompanies morning stiffness, fatigue, low-grade fever, muscle pain, or weight loss. In a minority of cases, the onset is more abrupt, with typical clinical manifestations appearing within a few days, including joint dysfunction, morning stiffness, and joint pain and swelling. Joint deformity is a later manifestation of the disease, indicating that the disease was not well-controlled, leading to joint damage.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is what's going on?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized primarily by inflammatory synovitis. Its main features are aggressive joint inflammation that symmetrically affects multiple small joints of the hands and feet. It often accompanies involvement of extra-articular organs and a positive rheumatoid factor in serum. It can ultimately lead to joint deformity and loss of function. The onset of the disease may be related to genetic, infectious, and hormonal factors.

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Does rheumatoid arthritis hurt?

Rheumatoid arthritis damages joints and bones, displaying as symmetrical polyarthritis. It is an autoimmune disease and a chronic condition that cannot be cured but can only be managed through medication to control disease progression. The primary symptoms include symmetrical pain and swelling in multiple joints, particularly in both wrists, therefore it is invariably associated with pain. Some individuals may also experience joint swelling accompanied by morning stiffness, fatigue, low fever, and weight loss. The onset of the disease is generally slow, although a few cases may have a sudden onset. It can also affect specific joints, such as the cervical spine, shoulder joints, and hip joints.

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Is joint pain rheumatoid arthritis?

Firstly, it should be noted that there are many causes of joint pain in clinical practice, and it is not necessarily caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Of course, rheumatoid arthritis can also cause joint pain in patients. In addition, there are some other reasons, for example, local joint bacterial infection in patients can also cause joint pain. Furthermore, joint injuries leading to fractures, dislocations, soft tissue damage, ligament injuries, and meniscus injuries can also cause joint pain. Additionally, the presence of osteoarthritis or gouty arthritis can similarly lead to joint pain in patients.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Criteria

The diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis include the following aspects: The first is symmetrical joint pain, primarily characterized by tenderness and swelling in the metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints, and both wrists. Secondly, it also includes abnormalities in inflammation markers, which comprise erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), along with abnormalities in certain antibodies, mainly rheumatoid factor, CCP antibodies, and AKA antibodies. If the above symptoms are present, and these inflammation markers and antibodies are found to be abnormal upon blood testing, a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis can be made.