Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake. This then causes inflammation, a type of painful swelling, in the affected areas. Rheumatoid arthritis typically attacks your joints, which can cause stiffness and affect your mobility.
What are the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
If you believe you may be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, you should contact a medical professional as soon as possible. Some of the signs to look out for include:
Pain or aching in more than one joint
Stiffness in more than one joint
Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
Weight loss
Fevers
Fatigue or tiredness
Weakness
How our clinic can help you
Rheumatoid arthritis is incurable, which means treatment focuses on managing your symptoms and slowing the progression of the condition to prevent long-term damage to your body. That’s why, at our clinic in Harley Street London, we conduct thorough assessments so we can understand the severity of your condition and devise an appropriate treatment plan.
Some common treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis are:
Physiotherapy – our trained physiotherapists can work with you to keep your joints as mobile as possible and reduce stiffness.
Medicines – we can offer you numerous medicines which are designed to reduce the swelling and inflammation of your joints, such as painkillers, steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Podiatry
Occupational therapies
Additional therapies – such as acupuncture and massages
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
Biological treatments
JAK inhibitors
Not only does our clinic in Harley Street, London offer several specialised treatment courses, but we can also offer guidance on lifestyle adjustments. We want to provide you with a plan that lasts and offer advice that can help you to manage your condition at home.
An example of this is safe and effective exercises you can do to increase the mobility of your joints. Keeping your joints mobile is important to reduce stiffness and swelling, but these must be performed safely. Another example is our insight into nutritional supplements you can try as well as how to implement a balanced diet. These supplements can help to strengthen your bones and joints, which can improve your mobility and reduce stiffness.
To find out more about how the team at our Harley Street clinic can help you to manage your rheumatoid arthritis, contact us today!
