You and a friend both have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but your treatment regimens are very different. You wonder why, for are not all cases of RA basically the same? Broadly speaking, any incidence of RA occurs because the body attacks its tissues as if they were foreign bodies. This is the hallmark of an autoimmune disorder such as RA. The linings of joints, especially the small ones like those in the hands and feet, usually become inflamed. Sometimes, too, RA causes systemic problems, such as fever and fatigue. But in its presentation, RA can vary in different patients. It can progress more quickly or more slowly in a given person, necessitating treatments that are more or less aggressive.
The treatments themselves can work exceptionally well in one patient – effectively slowing the progression to a crawl – and not so well in another, meaning a change of treatment course. Patients themselves differ, too, in their baseline health and fitness. A person who is in better physical condition can often participate in active therapies more vigorously than someone more fragile, or can more quickly add active therapies to passive therapies. A less conditioned individual may have to work much more slowly or rely on more passive therapies.
- Active therapies for RA include low-impact aerobic exercise, such as easy walking or swimming; and flexibility and strengthening exercises, which can even include Pilates and yoga. It is important that in any active exercise plan, a person with RA does not try to extend his or her joints’ range of motion beyond what would be considered normal.
- Passive therapies for RA include applications of heat and/or cold; hydrotherapy(submersion in warm water);massage; ultrasound; and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
We are accustomed to working with rheumatologists to help patients manage their RA. We will consult with your physician to design a program that is customized for you and that works with your physical condition and other treatments, such as medications.