What to do about rheumatoid arthritis pain? Do it now!

Clinically, the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unclear, but some experts say that the disease is closely related to inflammation in the human body and is a systemic disease. The incidence rate is particularly high in joints such as the hands and feet. What should I do if the pain of rheumatoid arthritis is unbearable? What are the treatments?

1. Patient education

Help patients correctly understand the disease, build confidence and patience, and cooperate with doctors in treatment.

2. General treatment

Those with obvious joint pain should emphasize rest and joint immobilization, and after the joint pain is relieved, attention should be paid to starting joint functional exercise and stiffness early. In addition, auxiliary treatments such as physical therapy and topical medications can quickly relieve joint symptoms.

3. Drug treatment

The treatment plan should be individualized, and drug treatment mainly includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs, immunosuppressants, immune and biological preparations, and herbal medicines.

(1) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects. They are the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and are suitable for patients at all stages of the disease, including the active phase. Commonly used drugs include diclofenac, nabumetone, meloxicam, celecoxib, etc.

(2) Antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are also called second-line drugs or slow-acting antirheumatic drugs. Commonly used ones include methotrexate, taken orally or intravenously; sulfasalazine, starting with a small dose and gradually increasing the dose; hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, cyclosporine, auranofin, and total glycosides of white paeony.

(3) Yunke, i.e. technetium [99Tc] methylene diphosphate injection, is a non-excited isotope that has a rapid onset of symptom relief in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with few adverse reactions. It is administered intravenously, with a course of treatment of 10 days.

(4) Glucocorticoids are not the first choice for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, hormones can be used in the following four situations: ① Accompanying rheumatoid arthritis including multiple mononeuritis, rheumatoid pneumonia, serous membrane inflammation, iritis, etc. ② Transitional treatment for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, small amounts of hormones can be used to quickly relieve the condition. Once the condition is under control, the hormone should be reduced or slowly discontinued. ③ Patients who have failed to respond to regular slow-acting anti-rheumatic drugs can be added with small doses of hormones. ④ Local application such as intra-articular injection can effectively relieve joint inflammation. The general principle is short-term small-dose application (less than 10 mg/d).