Ciccone Case Study Essay

Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. RA is a progressive and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder that affects the joints symmetrically, causing a range of systemic effects. What it causes is still not well known; nevertheless, findings of new research points towards a believe that it is triggered by a defective immune system, which causes the release of inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals cause damage to cartilage and bone, usually affecting the wrists, the joints of the hand, including the knuckles, the middle joints of the fingers and feet. While this condition can affect any joints, besides, important body organs such as the eyes and the lungs can also be affected by the inflammation that occurs as a result of this chronic condition. Only in America 1.3 million of people are affected by this ailment, and 75 % of them are mainly women. Its onset usually occurs between fourth and sixth decades; however, RA can occur at any age("Diseases And

The type of treatment chosen depends on the type of arthritis and the effects it has on the patient as well as the severity of the disease. Other factors to consider are the age of the patient and the joints affected. Bearing in mind that different people exhibit different reactions to different medications, treatment in this case is individualized but includes a combination of joint protection methods and medication. For rheumatoid arthritis, the Initial treatment starts with non steroidal ant inflammatory drugs and other simple analgesic but as the inflammation progresses, slow acting anti rheumatoid drugs which are aimed at modifying the disease are introduced. They are added progressively as the inflammation progresses in order to suppress the process that leads to chronic inflammation (Amin 1995).

Pain is processed by several parts of the brain, whereas the five senses are processed by specific areas in the brain. People also feel pain differently.

Both males and females can get this condition , it usually ranges from ages 19-60+, and is more common in females.

Although the disease often occurs in adolescent or young women, it more commonly appears between 30 and 50 years of age.

use are drugs. The drugs that are used, tend to ease the symptoms and slow R.A. activity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen sodium. These are the drugs that tend to ease the pain. Corticosteroids, disease- modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Biologics, and Jak inhibitors are drugs that tend slow R.A.s activity. Steroids and biologic agents such as Prednisone and adalimumab (Humira) are also recommended and used for people with R.A. All these different drugs are used to try and stop the progression of R.A. Most pharmaceuticals only reduce inflammation and pain. Although there isn't one particular drug at this point that can stop Rheumatoid Arthritis, drugs such as Ibuprofen do help and are considered the top drug that is used to treat inflammation and pain for R.A.

Around 70% of arthritis sufferers in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Women are also more likely to develop RA than men, and commonly affects adults between ages 50 and 60. This condition is characterised by an insidious onset of pain, swelling of joints and morning stiffness. Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the synovial tissue of the joints, supposedly triggered by the presence of autobodies such as rheumatoid factors. The first line treatment for RA is a combination of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). These slow down the progression of RA and treatment typically includes methotrexate in combination with another DMARD (e.g. sulphasalazine). Short term glucocorticoids are also used with DMARDS to manage flares of inflammation. Anti-TNF drugs

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. The prevalence of this autoimmune disease is between 0.3% to 1.5% of the population in the United States (Feinberg, pp 815). It affects women two to three times more often than men, and the onset of RA is usually between 25 and 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age (Reed, pp 584). RA can be diagnosed by establishing the presence of persistent joint pain, swelling in a symmetric distribution, and prolonged morning stiffness. RA usually affects multiple joints, such as the hands, wrists, knees, elbows, feet, shoulders, hips, and small hand joints. RA is

This inflammatory incurable disease Rheumatoid Arthritis came as a surprise to John as he had never experienced such an ‘excruciating pain’ in his joints. Pain initially started in his left hand and the next day he suffered from the same excruciating pain in his right hand. This really disturbed him as he had no idea what to do with it. The pain was absolutely excruciating that he decided to see a doctor and seek medical advice. His doctor was also confused and just recommended him some Analgesic or Paracetamol tablets to mitigate the pain. This indicates that John has led a healthy life in his past and has good medical record, since he was experiencing this kind of disease for the first time in his life; his doctor was unable to learn about his condition in the first place (Charmaz, pp.976-993).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systematic inflammatory disease characterized by synovitis (constant inflammation of the synovial membranes) and autoantibodies. The disease that affects 0.5-1.0% of all adults in industrialized countries, mostly women and elderly people (Scott et al, 2010). In the United States, more than 1.5 million people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, making it one of the most common auto-immune disease (Carmona et al. 2010). According to the Arthritis Foundation, individuals who suffer from arthritis have to deal with joint pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, loss of appetite, depressive symptoms, and low-grade fever which can last a few days to weeks. Individuals with this disease tend to have a low-quality of life and difficulties with day-to-day activities.

Rheumatoid Arthritis or (RA) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and connective tissue. The result is inflammation that produces permanent damage in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that tends to be progressive and destructive as compared to Osteoarthritis or (OA), which is more of an age related disease caused by “wear and tear” of the joints. In contrast to (OA), rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation mostly of the joints, but is a general body disease.

Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are advised by doctors to start treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs help relieve the symptoms as well as the progression from joint damage. A common DMARD used in relieving the symptoms and stopping the progression of joint damage is Methotrexate. “Although biologic agents were first established as combination therapy with DMARDs such as MTX, Gómez-Reino discusses data from clinical trials in which biologic monotherapy was used as an effective treatment for patients with RA”(Smolen & Keystone ,2012). DMARDs such as methotrexate is an effective treatment for treating the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. DMARDs are often prescribed along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to assist in reducing swelling and

In time, I discovered a constantly evolving field, one having made recent advances in biologic agents, thus opening up limitless opportunities for research. Moreover in managing side effects of immunosuppressants/biologic agents that are the mainstay of therapy in rheumatology produced its own set of challenges. These were but a few reasons why rheumatology held me

Although, symptoms and severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vary from person to person. Patient prognosis will depend on many factors, such as whether patients test positive or negative for the protein called rheumatoid factor (RF). Other factors that affect prognosis include patient’s age at time of diagnosis, overall health, and whether or not a person develop complications. Therefore, making the right lifestyle choices and adhering to the treatment plan can make a traumatic differences. (Johns Hopkin

The main categories of medications used to treat RA’s symptoms are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids, and biologics. Both the NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors are used to prevent COX-mediated prostaglandin synthesis that further damage the joints. The patient may be on up to eighteen tablets (5.4g) of NSAIDs a day to treat inflammation and pain; this remains the most common used class of medication. Corticosteroids, like prednisone, are used to decrease disease inflammation progression until DMARDs are effective despite not affecting the disease itself at all.