Every case of rheumatoid arthritis is unique to the individual suffering it. The symptoms might be severe in one case and another, mild. www.bosterbio.com explains that rheumatoid arthritis is not just an inflammation of the joints in the human body, but an autoimmune condition that is both chronic and systemic that initiates the body’s attack on healthy joints. There are 4 stages of rheumatoid arthritis, and its stage is a progression from the previous one. Not all individuals experience these four stages, or not the same symptoms associated with each stage. Let’s take a look at the 4 stages of rheumatoid arthritis.
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Stages of rheumatoid arthritis
The various stages of rheumatoid arthritis are distinct and come with their symptoms. The following factors can tell whether your rheumatoid will get better or worse.
- How well you and your doctor are managing your condition.
- How early your rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed.
- Lifestyle and genetic factors
Rheumatoid arthritis is of 4 stages. They are:
Stage 1 RA
This stage is also known as the early stage. During this stage, the individual experiences inflammation of the joint tissue. This inflammation leads to the following:
- Pain in the joints
- Tenderness in the joints
- Swelling
- Redness of the inflamed area
- Stiffness of joints
During this stage, there are no damages done to the joints. Stage 1 rheumatoid arthritis is best treated as soon as it is discovered. Doctors are advised to treat rheumatoid arthritis 12 weeks after it develops to get the best treatment outcomes.
Treatment for stage 1 rheumatoid arthritis
Deciding which treatment option to go with is left for your doctor to make, but here are some treatment options available for stage 1 rheumatoid arthritis.
- Methotrexate: This is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) and a chemotherapy medication that causes the alteration of your body’s immune system response. It is one of the first-line medications administered to cases of stage 1 rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate is available in pill and injection forms. Other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can be used to treat early-stage of rheumatoid arthritis are:
- Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
- Leflunomide (Arava)
- Hydroxycholoroquine (Plaquenil)
Just like most severe ailments, rheumatoid arthritis cases might need additional treatments to manage the symptoms appropriately. Here is some different treatment your doctor might suggest for stage 1 rheumatoid arthritis.
ü Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs): These are also known as OTC drugs and can be found in the following forms;
- Pills
- Topical ointments
- Patches
ü Occupational therapy and physical therapy
ü Corticosteroids that can be prescribed are prednisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone
Stage 2 RA
This is the moderate stage of rheumatoid arthritis. Individuals who have progressed to stage 2 of rheumatoid arthritis often complain of even more severe or prolonged symptoms in stage 1. They also complain of frequent land prolonged periods of reduced motion or distance they can walk.
During the moderate stage of rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial inflammation may begin to damage the joint cartilage.
Treatment for stage 2 rheumatoid arthritis
Once your doctor has identified the joints on the verge of damage, it is advised that they continue treating you with the disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) and other additional NSAIDs. Depending on your response to your treatment regimen, your doctor might decide to introduce another line of medications known as biologic response modifiers.
Biologic response modifiers reduce joint inflammation by blocking the T cells’ action (Immune cells) or the immune protein tumor necrosis factor’s activities. Some of the biologic response modifiers are abatacept (Orencia), rituximab (Rituxan), anakinra (Kineret), infliximab (Remicade), etc.
Stage 3 RA
An individual suffering from stage 3 rheumatoid arthritis has progressed to the severe stage of rheumatoid arthritis. In this stage, you will experience more frequent swelling of the joints and much more severe pain and other symptoms which you experience in the previous stages of rheumatoid arthritis. The synovial inflammation in this stage is so intense that it destroys both joint bones and cartilages. Other symptoms that come with this stage are:
- Unstable joints
- Loss of mobility
- Joint deformities such as knobbly or curved hands and toes.
Treatment for stage 3 rheumatoid arthritis
Stage 3 RA is often treated with medications prescribed in stage 1 and stage 2 rheumatoid arthritis. Another line of DMARDs known as JAK inhibitors can be introduced alongside other traditional DMARDs if different treatment regimens are unsuccessful.
Stage 4 RA
This is known as the end-stage RA. The synovial inflammation decreases, leaving joint function compromised—individuals who have progressed to this stage experience chronic mobility loss, joint destruction, and pain.
Treatment for stage 3 rheumatoid arthritis
Individuals at this stage of RA must have tried all medical options given by their doctor. However, Surgery can be performed on these individuals to help them regain normal body functions and repair damaged joints. Recombinant antigen expression services can aid with antibody production this in turn will help improve the immune system while it fights rheumatoid arthritis. Depending on the regimen your healthcare provider decides to go with, antibody production is a bonus to successful treatments.
