Living with arthritis can be challenging. The good news? You and your doctor can work together to create a disease management plan that fits your needs.
Explore the tabs and tools below to learn more about the different disease management options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) and how to have easier conversations with your doctor.
A disease management plan should combine medications with other approaches. Since RA is a progressive disease, different treatment options may be appropriate at different stages. It is important to start treatment soon after diagnosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis has no cure but medications can help reduce the signs and symptoms.
An RA disease management plan may include some of following:
Corticosteroids, also known as steroids, are used on a short-term basis to help with the inflammation associated with RA.
Pill or an injection into a muscle or directly into an affected joint
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used primarily to help with relief of joint pain and inflammation.
Pill or patch
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) work to reduce the body's overactive immune and/or inflammatory processes that cause RA symptoms such as joint pain and swelling. The DMARD family can be classified as the following:
Traditional non-biologic DMARDs, like methotrexate, are often prescribed at the time of diagnosis. Oral synthetic small molecules, like Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, are another class of non-biologic DMARDs.
Injection or pill
Biologic DMARDs are proteins manufactured using recombinant DNA technologyCLOSERecombinant DNA Technology: performed in laboratories, it is the joining together of different genetic materials that will make proteins that can be used as drugs.. They are immunosuppressantsCLOSE Immunosuppressants: treatments that suppress the immune system. that target and block the action of cells or chemicals that enable the immune system to cause inflammation and other symptoms of RA. Types of biologic DMARDs include tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) and non-TNFis.
Injection or infusion
While surgery isn’t for everyone, it may be an option for people with severe joint damage that limits joint function.
In OA—the most common form of arthritis—joint cartilage breaks down over time, causing symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.
Like RA, OA has no cure but medications and other approaches can help reduce symptoms.
An OA disease management plan might include some of following:
Exercise and weight management are important steps in an OA treatment plan. Why? Because studies show that excess weight can add stress to joints, and simple exercises, like walking, can help reduce joint pain and stiffness, improve muscle strength, and may help you maintain—or reach—a healthier weight.
Analgesics are medications that relieve pain. Analgesics include some over-the-counter drugs and some prescription medications.
Pill
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are a type of analgesic that help with relief of joint pain and inflammation.
Pill
Corticosteroids help with inflammation.
Injection into an affected joint
In people with OA, the natural lubricant between joints begins to disappear. Hyaluronic acid is used to replace the natural lubricant that is lost due to OA.
Injection into an affected joint
While surgery isn’t for everyone, it may be an option for people with severe joint damage that limits joint function.
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