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Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
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There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is treated with lifestyle changes and medicine. Surgery may be needed when these do not help. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

It is treated with:

Lifestyle changes
Medications
Surgery
Alternative and complementary therapies
Other treatments
REFERENCES:

Aletaha D, Smolen JS. Diagnosis and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review. JAMA. 2018 Oct 2;320(13);1360-1372.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis. January 27, 2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/musculoskeletal-and-connective-tissue-disorders/joint-disorders/rheumatoid-arthritis-ra. Updated December 2018. Accessed January 27, 2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rheumatic_Disease/default.asp. Updated September 2019. Accessed January 27, 2020.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/rheumatoid-arthritis-ra. Updated May 22, 2019. Accessed January 27, 2020.

Last reviewed November 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM  Last Updated: 2/16/2021