I'm not one for going to the doctor but I think I may have some arthritis starting in my hands. Is there really anything they can do about this anyway?
Our thinking about the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed over the last 10 years. Improved technology has made it possible to identify the disease earlier. Disease-modifying antirheumatism drugs (DMARDs) are now available to stop the progression of disease.
Studies confirm that early diagnosis and aggressive treatment DO make a difference. Patients who begin treatment early have less pain and less joint damage. Their motion and function are preserved. The bottom line is that there's less disability now than ever before for patients with RA.
Making the diagnosis can be difficult. There are many possible causes of joint pain. Arthritis is only one. Other diseases can present with joint pain as an early symptom. Seeing your doctor now can help sort out the true cause of your joint pain. This could make a big difference for you in the long-run.
« Back
All content provided by eOrthopod® is a registered trademark of Mosaic Medical Group, L.L.C.. Content is the sole property of Mosaic Medical Group, LLC and used herein by permission. Alteration of these documents in any way is a violation of the copyright.