Improving Self-Care for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Essay examples

Recreational Therapy can offer a person living with arthritis reprieve through inclusion and adaptive activities with hopes of reducing secondary conditions; in addition to improving the quality of life. There are a variety of modalities a TRS may utilize when working with a person living with Arthritis. The physical activity modality category may include exercise or aquatics. Physical activity can improve cardiovascular health; as well as increase strength and flexibility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis has been subject of numerous studies and researches in the look for a better understanding of how it effects the individuals diagnosed with it. There is a higher incident of females diagnosed with RA than male as well as a relationship with genetic and environmental factors involved. Around one percent of the world population is affected by RA; therefore, diverse studies have been performed to understand how the lives of the diagnosed patients can be impacted by the disease. For example, how RA affects the mobility, safety and activities of daily living in general as well as the development of interventions to better approach RA. On

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

As rheumatoid arthritis (RA) advance, it affect a person’s lifestyle, job, family role, activity of daily living, and it can also cause a person to be become depressed because they cannot do things they are able to do before they were diagnosed. RA occurs at any age and it is mostly common in women who ages 40-60 years (Jennie Walker, 2012). RA impacts the whole system in the body including lungs, heart, eyes, and result in an increase cardiovascular risk (Jill Firth, 2012). Rheumatoid arthritis also affects small and larger joints such as hands, feet, (small joints) knee, wrist, ankles, and shoulders (Walker, 2012). RA patient feels fatigue, weight loss, dry eye, and mouth (Firth, 2012). Physical therapist needs to encourage RA

It is very important to know how to cope with and manage symptoms of RA. For example, my family member who went through the experiences of RA, and developed depression when she found out she has to take multiple medications, which had dangerous symptoms. She has gotten better over time, but that is only with the help and support of family and close friends. One way to manage the symptoms of RA was continuing to do things she enjoyed. In other words, the symptoms of RA cause stress and it is important that patients stay mentally positive. By doing activities a person loves, people will “feel good,” and be optimistic about life, and managing the symptoms of RA. Therefore, it is important to have the support of family and friends when dealing Rheumatoid Arthritis

In addition, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis diseases can be similar that makes the diagnosing process inaccurate. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, “doctors use a variety of tools to diagnose the disease and to rule out other conditions.” [3] For example, doctors usually ask the patients about their family's medical history and observe the patients' ability to do daily living activities. After diagnosing the disease, doctors use several methods to treat the disease at different times depending on the patient’s condition. However, all doctors want the same goal, which is to relieve pain and stop the damage in the joints. Most people with rheumatoid arthritis take medications. For example, using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the inflammation. Furthermore, according to the Better Health Channel, “rest can help [patients] to manage fatigue, and is particularly important when [their] joints are swollen.” [4] Taking regular rest periods during activation will also reduce the pain and the

Loss of joint functionality, decreased work productivity, and disability creates stress. Furthermore, loss of independence to inability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) can further lead to depression, embarrassment, and social withdrawal (Barker & Puckett, 2010). Rising health care costs also lead to stress for the patient and family (Hasthorpe, 2011). RA cannot be cured. The symptoms are managed and the goal is to prevent joint destruction and maintain quality of life. The nurse plays an important role in this process. First, nurses should perform assessments on patients to determine level of severity and help develop a plan of care to improve overall well-being. They should assess ability to perform ADLs, IADLs, parenting abilities, social activities, and leisure activities, all the while considering economic

Although life bestows upon everyone various challenges, a patient suffering with rheumatoid arthritis has a grim and debilitating existence. Thus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that produces pain, inflammation, stiffness, redness, tenderness, and extreme deformity of many joints of the human body. Thus, everyday activities pose a significant obstacle for a patient with this enervating condition. Surprisingly, most people RA lead highly productive, full, and rather satisfying lives. Consequently, there are is an estimated two to three million Americans diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and about 200,000 newly diagnosed cases annually. Therefore, about 1 percent of the population has this condition, which affects people of all races and nationalities in this country. Even though, citizens at all stages in life can develop rheumatoid arthritis, it is most commonly touches people in their twenties, thirties, and forties. Nevertheless, research reveals that RA is three times more prevalent in women populace than men (Shlotzhauer and Hoplans 2014). Therefore, this brief research will disclose the definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis, patient prevalence, diagnosis, prognosis, and what patients experience that suffers with this condition.

Functional status was measured by COPM scores and HAQ while the level of coping was measured by AIMS2. HAQ and COPM results indicated EG (mean ∆HAQ= -0.27, SD=0.49) had significantly greater improvement in functional status than CG (mean ∆HAQ=-0.17, SD=0.51), when compared to their own baseline, p= 0.04. In COPM, results showed EG (mean ∆COPM satisfaction= 4.08, SD=2.41; mean ∆COPM performance= 3.10, SD= 2.01) had significantly greater satisfaction (p=0.001) and functional level (p=0.001) in occupational performance than CG (mean ∆COPM satisfaction= 0.25, SD=2.16; mean ∆COPM performance= -0.28, SD= 1.44) when compared to baseline. AIMS2 pain subscale score showed EG (mean ∆AIMS2 pain= -2.31, SD=1.74) also had significantly better pain coping skills (p=0.03) than CG (mean ∆HAQ=--0.27, SD=0.49). In conclusion, this study showed a joint protection program led by occupational therapy improved the RA patients’ occupational function and participation. It showed the importance of including both individual and group sessions since individualized goal-setting ensured OT’s client-centered practice while group sessions provided social interaction to RA

Other form of the treatment of RA is occupational therapy, through which you learn to do everyday tasks without applying stress to your painful joints. It mainly consists of learning the use of other body parts to do the task if a particular organ cannot do it due to pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily attacks all synovial joints. RA is the second most common form of arthritis, with osteoarthritis being the most common (Clements, 2011). It can occur at any age, however it generally affects those between the age of 30 and 50 (Marieb and Hoehn, 2013). If left untreated, active rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint damage, frailty, a decrease in quality of life, cardiovascular disorders along with other dire consequences (Scott, Wolfe, & Huizinga, 2010).

According to research, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most popular autoimmune disease. RA is known to be a prolonged, systemic disease that causes inflammation. This inflammation can potentially disturb the synovial tissue that is in the body which eventually leads to damage in the joints, disabling functional abilities, and sometimes even leading to death. Many different factors can be held accountable for the diagnosis (Korczowska, 2014). Throughout this display of research many different ranges of aspects will be discussed. This illness is seen in tremendous amounts amongst physical therapy. The etiology, which happens to be the cause of this case of arthritis, and the signs and symptoms, will be revealed. Certain medical and

Patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis present chronic systemic inflammation, contributing to a variety of symptoms such as pain in joints, muscle cachexia (muscle wasting) and decreased muscular function, and so reducing their quality of life (Ekdahl and Broman. 1992). Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the systemic inflammation of the synovial membrane of one or more joints and an abnormally high presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines. (Cooney, Law et al. 2011).

This paper will be addressing a chronic disease known as rheumatoid arthritis that “is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints.” (Foundation 2016) The interviewee in this paper, Robert Doe, age 68, has been diagnosed with this chronic autoimmune disease. This interview consisted of six questions in the home of Mr. Doe around his disease and the medications/substances used and what their long term effects consist of, activities of daily

Because the disease is chronic, the patient must adhere to lifelong treatment that has been integrated into their lifestyle. Rest must be coupled with mobility; the rest of specific joints, including sitting and lightweight splinting reduces unneeded movements. Exercises to maintain mobility and muscle strength are required; proper posture can provide further comfort. Heat and cold therapy coupled with relaxation techniques are important in relieving pain.