Rheumatoid arthritis and the flu shot. What is rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis – this is inflammation of the joint. With arthritis, pain is observed when moving or lifting heavy objects, the joint loses mobility, swells, changes shape, and the skin over the joint turns red.

Main symptoms of arthritis:

Pain and swelling in the joints.

Morning stiffness in the joints of the hands.

Weakness, fatigue.

Increased body temperature.

Losing weight.

Types of Arthritis
There are two types of arthritis:

Inflammatory arthritis.

Degenerative arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritis is associated with inflammation of the membrane lining the joint from the inside:

Infectious (purulent) arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Gout

Degenerative arthritis is associated with damage to articular cartilage:

Osteoarthritis

Traumatic arthritis

Suppurative arthritis occurs when pathogens of a pyogenic infection penetrate into the joint. Purulent arthritis is primary and secondary. Primary arthritis occurs in wounds. Secondary arthritis develops when an infection from adjacent tissue or blood enters the joint. Damage and destruction of cartilage is observed. Arthritis can lead to periarticular cellulitis. In this case, severe pain, high fever, and chills are observed.

Rheumatoid arthritis- a systemic disease with joint damage such as polyarthritis.

The causes of rheumatoid arthritis have not yet been clarified. The role most often pointed to is streptococci, viruses and other microorganisms, as well as genetic factors.

Damage to one's own immune system plays a special role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. The presence or absence of rheumatoid factor in the blood determines two forms of rheumatoid arthritis.

The seropositive form of arthritis is more severe. The disease usually begins acutely, with morning stiffness, pain, and fever. First, one joint is often affected (monoarthritis), and after a few months other joints are involved in the process.

Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the small joints of the hand. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by persistent pain that increases with movement and decreases at night. Arthritis is accompanied by muscle atrophy and the formation of rheumatoid nodules in the skin.

Arthritis due to influenza
Most patients with influenza have sensations of damage to muscles and joints. During the peak of the flu, joints are less likely to be affected. However, after 10-15 days the likelihood of arthritis increases. Arthritis due to influenza is usually allergic in nature and often becomes chronic.

Lyme disease caused by spirochetes after a tick bite. Very often, at the first stage of the disease, neck stiffness appears, and after a few months the patient develops arthritis.

Infectious-allergic arthritis begins acutely, develops as a result of increased sensitivity of the body to an infectious pathogen (streptococcus, staphylococcus).

Infectious-allergic polyarthritis is more common in young women. There is a connection between the occurrence of arthritis and acute upper respiratory tract infection. 10 - 15 days after an acute infection, during the period of greatest allergization of the body, acute inflammation of the joints occurs. But if patients with acute respiratory diseases take anti-inflammatory drugs, the process in the joints is sluggish.

Polyarthritis
Non-infectious polyarthritis develops with systemic diseases - allergies, connective tissue diseases (lupus erythematosus, scleroderma), blood diseases and hemorrhagic diathesis, malignant tumors, diseases with deep metabolic disorders (uremia, gout), injuries.

Inflammation of periarticular tissues in arthritis
With periarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis and some other arthritis, the joint capsules, tendons, and ligaments become inflamed. The causes of these diseases are mechanical overload due to flat feet, professional and sports overload, spinal curvature, and injuries. Periarthritis often affects the shoulder and hip joints.

Arthritis treatment

The duration of arthritis is 1-2 months. However, in some patients it persists for a longer period.

Recurrence of arthritis is possible after repeated acute infection or hypothermia. Under the influence of anti-inflammatory therapy, the shape and size of the joints are normalized, and function is restored.

Therapy is carried out with non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs: brufen, flugalin, naproxen, butadione, indomethacin, voltaren.

Desensitizing therapy - suprastin, diphenhydramine. Additionally, ultraviolet irradiation, vitamins, and low-carbohydrate foods are recommended. The disappearance of arthritis must be confirmed clinically and radiologically. Typically, long-term treatment is required, followed by observation by a rheumatologist, regular laboratory (2-4 times a year) and radiological (1-2 times a year) monitoring of the activity of inflammation for many years.

Several groups of anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed and successfully used to combat arthritis. In acute cases, they can be administered by injection directly into the site of inflammation. Restoring joint mobility and muscle elasticity is achieved using special gymnastics and massage techniques. A course of treatment with chondroprotectors is carried out, stimulating the restoration of joint cartilage.

Non-pharmacological treatments for arthritis include:

Reducing the load on joints: reducing body weight; selection of orthopedic shoes with soft soles and fixed heels, use of instep supports, knee pads, and canes when walking.

Therapeutic exercises, which should be carried out in a sitting position, lying down or in water (i.e. without static loads) and should not cause increased pain in the joints. Exercises on bent knees and squats are completely excluded. Swimming lessons are recommended.

Physiotherapeutic treatment: thermal procedures, ultrasound, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, massage, electrical pulse stimulation of muscles. Any physiotherapeutic procedures are carried out in the absence of contraindications.

Getting rid of bad habits: quitting smoking, excessive consumption of coffee drinks.

Pharmacological treatments for arthritis:

Local therapy: use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams, ointments or gels; intra-articular or periarticular administration of glucocorticosteroids.

For moderate joint pain, simple painkillers (paracetamol) are used; if their effect is insufficient, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

Currently, much attention in the treatment of arthritis is paid to drugs that can eliminate not only pain, but also prevent, slow down or reverse the development of pathological processes occurring in the joints during arthritis. Such drugs are called chondroprotectors, i.e. drugs that protect cartilage. They are able to stimulate the synthesis of the main substance of cartilage and at the same time inhibit the production of an enzyme that destroys cartilage. Thus, chondroprotectors enhance regenerative processes and suppress destructive processes in cartilage. When prescribed, pain is often significantly reduced, range of motion increases, and joint function is restored. Chondroprotectors are well tolerated and very rarely cause side effects.

Surgical treatment (joint replacement), which is used only for the most advanced forms of arthritis.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely cured. Modern treatment methods are aimed at reducing inflammation, improving joint function and preventing disability in patients. Early initiation of treatment improves prognosis. Optimal treatment includes not only drug therapy, but also exercise therapy, lifestyle changes and other measures. There are two types of drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: anti-inflammatory or fast-acting “first-line” drugs and slow-acting “second-line” drugs (also called disease-modifying or disease-modifying drugs). The first group of drugs includes aspirin and hormones (corticosteroids), which relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Basic drugs (for example, methotrexate) cause remission and prevent or slow down joint destruction, but are not anti-inflammatory drugs. Surgical treatment is used to correct severe joint deformities.

Treatment of reactive arthritis
General hygienic measures for the prevention of intestinal infections, the use of condoms to reduce the risk of infection with genitourinary chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Treatment of infectious arthritis
Infectious arthritis usually requires several days of hospital treatment, followed by medications and physical therapy sessions over several weeks or months.

Treatment of arthrosis
Gymnastics 2-3 times a week for 15 minutes.
Periodic preventive treatment of arthrosis 1-2 times a year (chondroprotectors, physiotherapy, manual therapy, massage).
Gentle exercise regimen and balanced nutrition.

Treatment of infectious-allergic arthritis
Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and desensitizing drugs are used. Before prescribing antibiotics to a patient with arthritis, their tolerance is determined. It is advisable to carry out balneological treatment (sea, hydrogen sulfide, radon baths) after treating arthritis.

Treatment of periarthritis
Treatment of periarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis takes 1-3 months. The pain can be relieved within a week. If periarthritis is advanced (6 months or more without proper treatment), a limitation of joint mobility of 10-20% often remains. After the acute symptoms of periarthritis have been relieved, preventive courses are required 1-2 times a year (chondroprotectors, physiotherapy, massage).

Treatment of complications of arthritis
Sepsis is a common complication of arthritis. Late complications include fistulas, ankylosis, dislocations, arthrosis, and limb deformities. Treatment for complications of arthritis depends on the duration of the disease. Suppurative arthritis should be treated promptly. For purulent arthritis, the inflammatory fluid is sucked out and the joint is washed with an isotonic sodium chloride solution, and antibiotics are prescribed. The limb must be immobilized.

Alternative remedies for treating arthritis:

Place a piece of camphor the size of 1/4 of a piece of refined sugar into a 200-gram bottle. Fill 1/3 of the bottle with turpentine, 1/3 with sunflower oil, 1/3 with wine alcohol. Let it brew for 3 days. Rub dry into the area of the sore joint at night and tie as a compress.

Apply celandine juice generously to the affected joints, after a few days the pain decreases. The more juice you apply to the joints, the more active the treatment.

1 tsp. pour celandine with 1 cup of boiling water, leave for 1 hour. Drink 50 g 3 times a day 15 minutes before meals for 1-2 months.

1 tbsp. l. woodlice herbs (medium chickweed) pour 1 cup of boiling water. Leave, covered, for 4 hours, strain. Take 1/4 cup 4 times a day before meals.

1 tbsp. l. fresh purslane herb pour 1 glass of cold water. Boil for 10 minutes after boiling. Leave, covered, for 2 hours, strain. Take 1-2 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day.

Infuse 20 g of horse chestnut flowers in 0.5 liters of alcohol or vodka for 2 weeks. Use the tincture as a rub.

Take 50 g of mullein flowers (bear's ear) and leave for 2 weeks in 0.5 liters of vodka or 70% alcohol. This tincture can be used for rubbing as a pain reliever.

3 tsp. Boil the rhizomes and roots of yellow gentian for 20 minutes, add 3 glasses of water. Leave, covered, for 2 hours, strain. Take 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day before meals for arthritis of various origins.

Pour 1 glass of walnut partitions with 0.5 liters of vodka and leave for 18 days. Take 2-3 times a day for a month.

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Exercise for arthritis? Exercises for joint arthrosis. Photo. How to exercise with arthritis? Exercise for arthritis? Therapeutic gymnastics and exercises for joint arthrosis. How to do gymnastics for arthrosis. If gymnastics for arthritis is done during remission in combination with drug treatment, physiotherapy, under the supervision of a rehabilitation specialist, then it will provide invaluable assistance in the treatment of this difficult disease. Exercises for joint arthrosis. In the section of our website you will see video stories. . . .

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Nastya Zotkina Charity marathon “Thousands of kind hearts”. Photo. Results of treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) using Phoenix Fohow products. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Nastya is 13 years old. Diagnosis: juvenile chronic arthritis, oligoarthritis with eye damage (chronic uveitis). Attention should also be paid to the baby’s motor activity - this is a very important moment in the formation of the skeleton. To prevent arthritis at a young age, it is important to exercise regularly. . . .

Rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of joint diseases. Treatment of arthritis, gout. Photo. This video provides brief information about the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of joints (knee, elbow, hip, shoulder) without surgery, without the use of hormones and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Demonstration of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Before prescribing treatment, it is necessary to perform a test to determine the level of urea and serum creatinine for an objective assessment of kidney function. Treatment of joint diseases. Treatment of arthritis. . . .

Treatment of joints - arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, gout. Joint diseases Arthritis Arthrosis Intervertebral hernias. Photo. The clinic provides treatment for joints with arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, and gout. The treatment uses classical and highly effective proprietary techniques. The clinic has extensive experience in treating the most complex cases of arthritis, arthrosis, and rheumatism. Treatment of joints - arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, gout. Joint diseases Arthritis, Arthrosis Intervertebral hernias. Presumably, with rheumatoid arthritis, an infectious lesion of the immune system occurs, and that’s all. . . .

The causes of RA are not yet fully understood, but research continues in this area. Scientists know that RA is an autoimmune disease. The normal role of the body's immune system is to fight and protect people from infections. However, when a person has an autoimmune disease, his immune system destroys the body's own, healthy tissue, and not foreign substances, like an infection.

In RA, the immune system targets the lining of the joints, called the synovial membrane, causing inflammation and damage to the joints.

The characteristic swelling occurs when the joint creates too much lubricating (synovial) fluid in response to inflammation. Sometimes other parts of the body, such as the lungs and eyes, can also be affected.

Some people may be more at risk of developing RA due to genetic factors. What exactly causes the body's immune system to attack joints remains unknown.

The inflammation causes joints to become painful, hot and swollen, and movement is limited. Inflammation caused by RA can cause joint damage, especially if left untreated. RA can occur at any age, but usually occurs between 35 and 64 years of age. It is the second most common form of arthritis in the world. An estimated 57% of people with RA are women.

The most common symptoms of RA are:

Swelling, pain and warmth in the joints. Typically, smaller joints, such as those in the arms or legs, are affected.
Persistent fatigue.
Difficulty sleeping due to pain.
Weak muscles.
Feeling thirsty and sweating.

The course and severity of RA varies from person to person, and no two cases are alike. Symptoms may change every day. There may be times when the disease is active and progressing and at other times the disease is inactive.

Joint pain can be relieved or minimized, significantly alleviating the painful condition. Menovazine is one of the best medicines that can have a strong analgesic effect. It has been time-tested and is recommended for the treatment of RA.

Other medications used to treat people with RA may increase the risk of developing infections. Vaccination can help prevent some of these infections.

An autoimmune disease, RA occurs when a person's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue. While RA primarily affects the tissue lining of joints, it can also affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, and eyes.

Rheumatoid arthritis drugs work by suppressing the patient's immune system. However, an undesirable side effect of this suppression is an increased risk of infection, especially in the lungs.

Vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of infection. But, if the patient has a weakened immune system, vaccines that contain live viruses should be avoided. These types of vaccinations can cause infection in people with suppressed immune systems.

The nasal spray version contains a live virus, so it is not recommended for people who have a weakened immune system.

You should talk to your doctor about which vaccinations you may need and when during your treatment is the best time to get them.

Update: October 2018

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis reaches 0.5–2% of the population in developed countries, and the reduction in life expectancy of patients with this disease compared to the general population is 3–7 years. This causes enormous damage to society due to the possible onset of early disability of patients (in the first 5 years of the disease) in the absence of timely therapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease of connective tissue of a chronic nature, in which multiple erosive and destructive lesions of the joints occur, such as polyarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membranes of the joints (mainly small ones) are affected. The disease is autoimmune in nature - in this case, immune cells-lymphocytes perceive their own joint cells as foreign. In this article we will talk about rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms and treatment of this disease.

Etiology of the disease

The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood. However, studies have shown that hereditary predisposition plays a major role in its occurrence. Considering that with rheumatoid arthritis, a general blood test shows an increase in ESR and the number of leukocytes, the process is infectious in nature.

According to many scientists, the disease occurs due to the entry of infectious agents into the body that disrupt the functioning of the immune system and form immune complexes with antibodies or viruses in individuals who have a genetic predisposition to this. These immune complexes are deposited in the joint area, causing joint damage. Rheumatoid arthritis in most cases leads to disability of patients, and sometimes can even cause death (if infectious complications and renal failure occur).

Respiratory diseases (including influenza and tonsillitis) in 40% of cases precede an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis and are its provocateurs. Sometimes the appearance of inflammation is preceded by injury, general hypothermia, hormonal changes, heavy physical activity, stress (dismissal from work, health problems, divorce, death of loved ones), overwork, and other adverse environmental factors.

Main symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis has distinct individual symptoms that prevent it from being confused with other diseases:

The appearance of inflammatory swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index and middle fingers of both hands, and inflammation of the wrist joints is also possible. The damage to the joints is symmetrical (appears almost simultaneously on both hands).
The appearance of pain in the joints, which intensifies at night and closer to the morning. Joint pain usually bothers patients in the first half of the day; in the afternoon it decreases and disappears altogether. At night, at about 3 o'clock, the pain intensifies and does not go away until the morning.
There is symmetrical damage to the small joints of the legs (usually at the base of the toes) with pain when pressing the pads of the toes.
As the disease progresses, inflammation of larger joints (knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles) occurs. It should be noted that some forms of arthritis occur with damage not to small, but to large joints, which are later joined by damage to small joints (more common in older people).
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by morning stiffness in the affected joints (a feeling as if the joints are “stiff” or are in tight gloves or boots). The feeling of stiffness is noted for several hours after waking up, after which it completely disappears or decreases.
In the area of the bends of the elbows, feet, and hands, dense subcutaneous formations appear - rheumatoid nodules, which usually do not exceed the size of a pea. Rheumatoid nodules are a cosmetic defect; they usually do not cause concern to the patient and can change their size over the years, disappear and reappear.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by signs of intoxication of the body (feeling of weakness, decreased appetite, increased or decreased body temperature, weight loss).
The pronounced picture of rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by persistent deformation of the hands and fingers. The so-called ulnar deviation of the hands appears - the hands and fingers deviate outward, mobility in the joints is limited, and they become fixed in an incorrect position. Over time, blood circulation and innervation of the hands become impaired, skin pales and muscle atrophy occurs.

As the disease progresses, inflammation affects more and more joints. The more joints are involved in the inflammatory process, the more severe the stage of the disease. Particularly troublesome is caused by the inflammatory process in large joints, in which the feeling of discomfort is manifested by particular stiffness and the inability to carry out active full movements.

Over time, patients may develop a Baker's cyst - a formation in the knee joint caused by the accumulation of excess fluid in the joint capsule, which causes it to stretch.
Rheumatoid arthritis can manifest itself with other, additional symptoms, such as:

burning sensation in the eyes;
inflammation of the salivary glands with insufficient saliva production;
chest pain that occurs when breathing;
numbness or increased sweating of the hands and feet;
the appearance of pain when sitting for long periods of time;
chronic fatigue;
frequent signs of ARVI;
the occurrence of frequent outbreaks of morbidity;
muscle pain;
prolonged depression.

Rheumatoid arthritis has three stages

the first is manifested by swelling of the synovial bursae of the joints, pain, redness of the joints
the second stage is characterized by active cell division, causing thickening of the joint lining
the third is manifested by joint deformities, increased pain, decrease or loss of motor functions in the joints.

There are different options for the clinical course of rheumatoid arthritis, among which are:

classic version of the flow;
mono- or oligoarthritis (which affects large joints);
arthritis with pseudoseptic syndrome (manifested by fever, weight loss, anemia);
Felty's syndrome (polyarthritis is present, the disease is accompanied by an enlarged spleen);
Still's syndrome;
juvenile forms of arthritis (manifested by allergic reactions, joint damage and symptoms of damage to internal organs);
visceral-articular forms (severe damage to joints and internal organs).

How does an exacerbation manifest itself?

Rheumatoid arthritis has two phases. Remission is a period of relative well-being when the symptoms of the disease become less pronounced or disappear completely. On the contrary, during an exacerbation, not only signs of joint inflammation appear, but also general reactions.

Exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis is manifested by the following symptoms:

Severe pain in the affected joints. It becomes constant and does not depend on the time of day. NSAIDs most often do not have any effect;
Increasing the temperature to 37-38.5 o C
Severe weakness and apathy;
Loss of appetite;
Chest pain, difficulty breathing, discomfort in the eye area, and decreased vision may occur.

It is important to recognize an exacerbation of arthritis as early as possible, since during this period all the patient’s organs suffer. Special treatment is required to relieve all symptoms and return the disease to remission.

Diagnostics

Making a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is quite difficult, since the symptoms of various joint diseases can be similar to each other. To confirm or refute the presence of this disease, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are used.

Laboratory diagnostics

Clinical blood test

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the entire body, not just a few joints. Therefore, signs of an inflammatory process can be found in the blood:

A large number of immune cells (leukocytes) - more than 9*10 9 /l;
Acceleration of ESR – above 15 mm/sec;
An increase in eosinophils in the blood - more than 7% of the number of leukocytes.

In some cases, there may be a decrease in the number of red blood cells (less than 3.7 * 10 12 / l - in women; less than 4.5 * 10 12 / l - in men) and hemoglobin (less than 120 g / l). These signs often indicate severe arthritis or an exacerbation of the disease.

Biochemical analysis of venous blood can also indicate the presence of arthritis. The amount of C-reactive protein (abbreviated as CRP) increases significantly with this disease, rising above 10-15 mg/l.

Rheumatoid factor test

The most specific method of laboratory diagnostics. It allows you to assess not just the presence of inflammation, but also confirm its autoimmune nature (when the patient’s antibodies attack his own cells). Normally, rheumatoid factor is not found in the blood, or its minimal concentrations are detected (up to 10 U/l). With arthritis, this figure increases several times.

Instrumental diagnostics

X-ray

To this day, the method has not lost its significance. This is a cheap and fairly accurate way to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Changes in the image can be seen within 1-3 months after the onset of the disease. The earliest radiological symptom is osteoporosis (decreased calcium concentration) of the bones that form the joint.

As arthritis progresses, new signs of the disease appear on the x-ray:

Erosion on parts of the bones that face the joint cavity;
Destruction of these bone sections;
“Overgrowth” of the affected joints, which leads to limitation of their mobility.

It is important to carry out repeated x-rays at different stages of treatment, which will allow one to assess the dynamic condition of the joints and the adequacy of the therapy.

Densitometry

This is a way to study bone density. Currently, densitometry is carried out using ultrasound, which makes the method completely safe and quite accurate. The study helps to identify the initial signs of rheumatoid arthritis, at the stage of development of osteoporosis.

Other tests such as arthroscopy, biopsy and scintigraphy are rarely used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. They allow you to determine the presence of damage in the joint, but such specific signs as with radiography cannot be detected.

Drug treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis is difficult to treat and is often almost impossible to cure. The disease lasts throughout life, accompanied by periodic exacerbations, which are followed by periods of remission. Treatment of the disease is based on pain relief, inhibition of disease progression and restoration of joint function through surgery. The earlier a disease is detected, the greater the chance of reducing the harm it causes.

To treat rheumatoid arthritis, 4 main groups of medications are needed:

NSAIDs

NSAIDs (, movalis, indomethacin,) have an anti-inflammatory effect; these drugs inhibit the activity of the enzyme that causes the destruction of articular cartilage, reduce signs of inflammation and reduce joint pain. NSAIDs must be prescribed with caution; with long-term use and the combined use of several drugs in this group, the risk of side effects increases significantly.

Basic drugs

Basic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (sulfasalazine, methotrexate, aminoquinoline drugs, leflunomide, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, Remicade, timodipressin, etc.) in combination with hormones help reduce the activity of rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with basic drugs is prescribed for a period of no more than 6 months. In total, there are five groups of basic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: gold drugs, cytostatics, antimalarial drugs, sulfonamides and D-penicillamine.

GCS (corticosteroids)

Glucocorticosteroids (hormonal drugs) (prednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, triamcinolol) are prescribed both in the presence of systemic manifestations of the disease and in their absence. Today, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, treatment is practiced with both small and large doses of hormones (pulse therapy). Corticosteroids are excellent for pain relief.

Biological agents

Biological drugs (halofuginone, etanercept, Humira, Actemra, rituximab, Orencia) have a protein base and were developed through genetic engineering. Their main purpose is also to suppress inflammation due to their effect on special components of the human immune system.

Modern drugs for the treatment of arthritis

The latest generation of drugs against rheumatoid arthritis are drugs that selectively reduce the activity of inflammatory substances in the body: interleukins, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and others. They have proven their effectiveness not only in pharmacological trials, but also in real clinical practice. Another advantage is the rare occurrence of adverse reactions.

The main representatives of this group of drugs:

Infliximab (synonyms: Remicade, Flammegis);
Etanercept (synonym: Enbrel);
Adalimumab.

Why are these drugs not widely used? It's a matter of price. The cost of 20 ml of the drug, on average, is 45,000-50,000 thousand rubles. Not every hospital or patient can afford this.

Physiotherapy

The severity of the inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled not only with medications. For this purpose, physiotherapy is used, which, in addition to the anti-inflammatory effect, stimulates blood circulation in the affected joints. Good blood flow contributes to the gradual restoration of cartilage and normalization of the production of intra-articular fluid (synovium).

The following methods are highly effective:

Electrostimulation according to Gerasimov- a new method of physiotherapy, the principle of which is to stimulate the tissues around the joint with low-frequency current. The course of treatment is 3-6 procedures, and the effect lasts for several years. After therapy, patients note a decrease in the severity of pain, stiffness and signs of inflammation (swelling and redness of the joints);
Galvanic currents;
Irradiation of the joint with ultraviolet waves;
Diathermy is the application of low-frequency current to the joint area in order to warm it up.

In addition to classical physiotherapy, traditional methods of treatment can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis: warm compresses, trips to the bathhouse with “steaming” the joint area, poultices.

It should be noted that physiotherapy does not replace drug treatment, but only complements it. Otherwise, rheumatoid arthritis will steadily progress and lead to damage and curvature of the joints.

Lifestyle change

In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lifestyle correction is of great importance. It is necessary to find a balance between the load on the joints and their rest. Let's explain with an example.

If the patient works in production and is forced to carry heavy objects every day or are in the same position (welders, assemblers and other professions), excessive stress will be placed on the joints, which contributes to their destruction.

The opposite situation is that a patient with rheumatoid arthritis works as an office worker who does not exercise. His joints receive virtually no stress, which is why little blood flows to them, fewer anti-inflammatory substances are produced, and they are more quickly damaged by the disease.

How to make lifestyle changes with rheumatoid arthritis

Lose weight – if your mass index (calculated as weight/height 2) is greater than 25, you should take steps to reduce weight. Most often, a diet limiting fatty, fried, starchy foods, fast food, and physical exercise is sufficient;
Avoid static loads– when a person remains in one position for a long time or holds an object, the load on the joints increases several times. This leads to progression of the disease. To reduce the impact on your joints, it is recommended to take “dynamic breaks” regularly. Within 3-5 minutes, change your position several times and perform a few simple movements to warm up your joints;
Do physical education– moderate stress on the joints helps normalize blood flow and has a slight anti-inflammatory effect. You should not strive for athletic achievements, as this can lead to negative consequences. Swimming is the best option for physical exercise for patients with rheumatoid arthritis;
Follow the doctor's recommendations– therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is always accompanied by taking potent medications that have side effects. However, they should not be canceled without the doctor’s permission. This will lead to the progression of the disease and the rapid development of deformities.

Surgery

Currently, the help of surgeons in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is resorted to only in cases of severe joint deformities. Most often, the following options are observed:

“Walrus fin” - the entire hand deviates towards the body and cannot return to its normal position;
Boutonniere fingers – strong flexion of the fingers in the initial sections and normal position of the final phalanges;
“Swan neck” - the fingers on the hand are curved in a wave-like manner;
“Spindle” finger – white thickenings (rheumatoid nodules) are noted in the area of the knuckles of the finger.

In addition to the hand, the joints of the foot and knee may also be affected. If they are so altered that the patient cannot take care of himself normally, he is offered prompt correction of the defect. Surgeons can replace the entire joint, reconstruct the affected part, or realign the bones without the use of foreign bodies.

How to treat an exacerbation

The most dangerous phase of rheumatoid arthritis is an exacerbation. At this time, the symptoms of the disease manifest themselves most strongly (pain, fever, swelling and redness of the joints, etc.), and the joints are damaged much more intensely than during remission.

During an exacerbation, doctors use a special treatment regimen that can quickly stop rheumatic inflammation:

Pulse therapy. The principle of the method is to prescribe high doses of glucocorticosteroid hormones (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisolone) for 3 days. A short period of therapy does not allow the development of pronounced adverse reactions, and a large amount of the drug, most often, allows to relieve most of the symptoms of the disease;
Correction of basic therapy– Doctors must figure out why the patient experienced an exacerbation while taking medications. If necessary, the patient changes the dose of cytostatics or their regimen;
NSAIDs – These are used as a supplement to hormones. As a rule, Diclofenac or Ibuprofen are used.

The doctor must inform the patient about the prognosis, course and nature of his disease, the treatment monitoring scheme, the duration and complexity of therapy, as well as unwanted side effects of drugs and their combination with other drugs. Also that during treatment, exacerbation of chronic infections is possible, and immunosuppressive drugs should be temporarily discontinued. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is prescribed by an experienced rheumatologist and periodic monitoring of both disease activity and response to treatment is assessed.

Frequently asked questions from patients

Question:
Is it possible to replace conventional therapy (medicines and physical procedures) with traditional methods of treatment?

Definitely not. Traditional methods such as warm compresses, poultices or bath procedures can complement drug treatment. But without it they will not have a significant effect.

Question:
What are the first signs of rheumatoid arthritis? How to recognize it at the earliest stages?

Typically, the first symptom is morning stiffness, which gradually improves throughout the day. In 80% of cases, patients complain of stiffness in the joints of the fingers and hand. To distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other diseases, you should consult a doctor who will examine you and prescribe the necessary diagnostics.

Question:
What is the best way to take medications - inject them into the joint, use ointments or tablets orally?

Modern research has proven that intra-articular administration of drugs for rheumatoid arthritis has a negative effect, as it often damages the joint with a needle. Most drugs are prescribed orally (tablets orally), since it is necessary to reduce inflammatory processes throughout the body, and not just in one/several joints.

Question:
Reactive and rheumatoid arthritis - are there any differences?

Yes, definitely. Reactive arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that occurs after an infection (intestinal, respiratory system, etc.). It can be cured with adequate therapy. Rheumatoid arthritis is not caused by microbes and cannot be cured, only slowing down the progression of the disease.

Question:
Can reactive arthritis turn into rheumatoid arthritis?

No - these are two completely different diseases, despite similar treatment. However, patients who have had reactive arthritis develop rheumatoid arthritis more often. This is due to the peculiarity of the immunity of such people, which is prone to “mistakes” and cause autoimmune inflammation.

Question:
Is it possible to refuse basic drugs (cytostatics) due to their strong side effects on the immune system?

No, since it is cytostatics that inhibit the disease as much as possible, limiting damage to joints and internal organs. In case of severe side effects, you should contact your doctor, who will adjust the treatment (but will not note it).

Question:
How is arthrosis different from rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. The affected joints are sore/stiff early in the day and the skin overlying it is often red or swollen. There are general symptoms such as weakness, fever, decreased appetite, etc. With arthrosis, most often only one joint is damaged. The main symptom of the disease is pain at the end of the day, which intensifies after exercise. Treatment of arthrosis and arthritis also has significant differences.

Influenza is considered one of the most serious infectious diseases accompanied by the development of inflammation of the respiratory tract. Its causative agent is most often the influenza virus, although the disease can also have a bacterial etiology.

The disease is caused by streptococcal or staphylococcal infections with Haemophilus influenzae and others.

The fact that colds and flu can have consequences is no secret to anyone. But their character is different. In particular, complications after the disease on the joints deserve special attention.

Development of rheumatoid arthritis due to influenza

The most unpleasant consequence after the flu is the development of joint diseases with an independent course. One of them is rheumatoid arthritis, although uncomplicated joint pain is also possible, which without timely action can develop into serious illnesses.

As for arthritis, the provoking factors that cause it are often:

acute respiratory viral infections;
angina;
phagingitis;
flu;
and other colds and infectious diseases.

In addition, treatment of any infection is almost always carried out with the help of antibiotics, which, as is known, do not have the best effect on the condition of the human body, where joints are no exception.

First of all, the immune system begins to suffer: its functional features are disrupted to such an extent that, instead of protecting the body, it begins to fight healthy cells, attacking both internal organs and joints and cartilage. It is advisable to consider the mechanism of immunity in more detail.

Circular blood circulation in the small and large circles is ensured by constant support of the lymph department of the functioning of the circulatory system, including blood vessels. In case of disturbances, an accumulation of cells occurs in the lymph nodes, designed to destroy the infection and actively fight it.

During an exacerbation of colds and infectious diseases, including influenza, this regulatory function is not always fully activated, as it receives incorrect information. And this happens as a result of the effect of antibiotics on the body. It goes without saying that the main symptoms of influenza do not go unnoticed and patients still develop a fever.

However, immunity at the same time includes the function of self-defense, and at this time other internal systems and organs are deprived of this protection. In addition, the immune system, along with the sick, begins to attack healthy cells and joints. This reaction mostly concerns the blood vessels and ends in the joints.

The incorrect process of self-regulation of immunity leads to the accelerated development of rheumatoid arthritis and the following manifestations:

patients begin to complain of aching legs;
limited movement during flexion and extension;
curled fingers.

In the absence of timely measures, the process leads to disability of patients.

Pain, limited movement, and a feeling of coldness in the joints of the legs create considerable discomfort for people when performing movements. Such symptoms indicate the development of joint diseases, which often occur after the flu.

Similar symptoms tend to appear in people with a fragile physique. However, even strong people can experience swelling and inflammation of the joints when the legs suffer, which are accompanied by a painful sensation that does not stop even in a calm state and in the complete absence of motor activity.

Manifestations such as acute respiratory infections, influenza and sudden hypothermia, especially if people have a genetic predisposition to joint diseases, act as a provocateur in the development of arthritis.

Any active inflammatory process, especially one that develops against the backdrop of the devastating effects of influenza, has the most unfavorable effect on the cartilage and joints of the legs:

they are destroyed;
there is an intensive accumulation of salts in them.

It is worth noting that rheumatoid arthritis can be triggered by poor diet and insomnia.

One way or another, your legs will have to return to normal after the flu. Moreover, this issue must be approached with all seriousness.

The fact is that untreated arthritis, as well as arthrosis, can aggravate the situation and even lead to immobility of the joints. Where should you start and what to do in such cases?

First of all, you need to reconsider your entire lifestyle:

catering;
presence of stress on the legs and lack of sleep;
the frequency of stressful situations and any other negative effects on the human body that can reduce immunity and cause this pathology.

If a joint disease is diagnosed after a person has had the flu, this gives every reason to assume that this illness is the direct cause.

In this case, a pronounced therapeutic effect can be achieved using the following injection drugs with an anti-inflammatory spectrum of action:

nimesulide;
diclofenac.

When treating joints, it is recommended to resort to methods such as herbal medicine. You can do compresses, therapeutic massages and take baths. Tanning in the sun helps a lot. Although this should be done in moderation. If your legs continue to hurt, you can correct the situation by using dandelion tincture.

Treatment of joints after the flu requires an integrated approach. And one of the mandatory measures is gymnastics. In some cases, you will have to make an effort, as cramps may bother you, and your legs, back and shoulders may hurt. Exercise therapy for the treatment of joints will significantly speed up the healing process.

Although activity will need to be limited, it is imperative to move. Otherwise, muscles and joints may simply atrophy, which already poses a potential danger to them, since reversing this process will require a lot of effort.
If you have joint diseases, you need to drink as much as possible, since it is the liquid that removes heavy metals and toxins from the joints, and also cleanses the lymph. Proper nutrition plays a significant role in these diseases. The fact is that some foods can cause significant harm to the body.

So, when drinking red wine and beef meat, oxalic acid is deposited in the joints. So they will have to be limited. But fruits, including apples, can effectively cleanse the body. Fish is considered very useful in this situation - this product is rich in fatty acids.

You will have to limit salt to a minimum, as its consumption leads to the deposition of salts in the joints and the formation of swelling.

It is imperative to treat complications after the flu, and the sooner you start, the better.