Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting more than just your joints. This condition can damage several of the body’s systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can include pain, swelling, and tenderness in more than one joint, joint stiffness, fatigue, weakness, and fever. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis focuses on maintaining or improving joint function, as its most important goal is to reduce joint pain and swelling. Treatment options include medications such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, physical or occupational therapy, and in cases of severely damaged joints, surgery, such as knee replacement, hip replacement, and other surgeries that correct a deformed joint.
