Rheumatoid Arthritis and Role of Homeopathy

When winter approaches, there are many people who worry about the pain and swelling their different body parts would suffer. It is not that warm or hot season completely eliminates pain and swelling but those associated with RA are increased in most sufferers in the cold weather.

A long-term inflammatory disease that primarily affects joints is termed as rheumatoid arthritis or RA. The typical expression of RA takes place as warm, swollen and painful joints. However rheumatoid arthritis can take over functions of other parts of the body also.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known. It is believed that the onset of RA takes place due to the combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It is found in RA that the immune system of the affected person’s body attacks the body’s joints. Exactly! The system which is supposed to protect your body from infections and diseases turns the attacker or enemy to your body’s joints. This results in inflammation in and around the joints which may damage the skeletal system. The damage may also occur to the lungs, heart and other organs.

•  People with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to suffer from it in their lives.
• Women are affected more than men by RA.
•  People in their middle ages are affected more but the onset of RA can take place at any age.        RA affects nearly 0.5% to 1% of adults in the developed world. 
• In India, 0.7% of adults are affected by rheumatoid arthritis. 

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

RA is characterized by swollen, warm, painful and stiff joints in most of the affected people. The most commonly affected joints are small joints of hands, wrists, feet, cervical spine but ankles, knees, shoulders, and elbows are also affected.

Let us look into the symptoms of RA:

•         Pain in joints: The affected joints are painful. The intensity of pain may vary according to temperature and specific conditions such as stressful environment from person to person. Pain in joints can worsen on moving them.
  
•         Stiffness: It is observed that patients of RA find it difficult to move their joints due to stiffness especially in the morning. It may take nearly 30 minutes to ease the stiffness of joints in the morning.
  
•         Swelling in joints: It may vary according to seasons and other variations that affect the people of RA.
  
•         Warmth over joints: Inflammation of the synovial membrane in joints increases the temperature of joints.
  
•        Limitation of movement: Pain, swelling and stiffness can limit the day-to-day movements of joints. This leads to trouble in activities such as tying shoes, opening jars, buttoning shirts.
  
•         Lack of energy: The disease can become the reason of constant tiredness and fatigue.
  
•         Occasional fever: RA patients may develop a fever from time to time as after excessive exertion.
  
•         Deformities in and around joints: Ulnar deviation, buttonhole deformity, swan neck deformity, hammer toe deformity can be seen.
  
•     Bony erosion: It happens when disease severity is high and the functional outcome of the disease is poor.
  
•         Bumps in the skin: Rheumatoid nodule can occur mainly over bony prominences like elbow, heel, knuckles and maybe a few millimeters to few centimeters in diameter.
  

The effects of rheumatoid arthritis on other parts of the body can be seen as follows:

•         Lungs: Lung fibrosis, lung nodules, exudative pleural effusions can be seen as complications of RA.
  
•         Heart and blood vessels: Increased risks of atherosclerosis, heart attack, endocarditis, pericarditis, and fibrosis are present.
  
•         Blood: Anaemia is mostly seen in patients of rheumatoid arthritis where iron is poorly absorbed.
  
•         Bones:  Osteoporosis or weakening of bones occurs in RA around inflamed joints.
  
•         Constitutional symptoms: Loss of weight, lack of appetite, low-grade fever, and tiredness are seen.
  
•         Kidneys, nerves, eyes, and liver may also be affected in RA.

Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The diagnosis of RA generally is based on symptoms and maybe confirmed through various tests. In the initial stages of RA, it is difficult to diagnose RA. The tests used to assist diagnosis in RA include:

•         Radiological examination of joints by X-Ray: It gives images of bones, tissues, and organs under examination.
  
•         Blood Tests: They are done to find antibodies such as Rheumatoid Factor, Cyclic Citrullinated Antibody, and other signs of RA such as anemia.
  
•         Ultrasound and MRI: Bone damage and inflammation and damage to various organs can be detected through these tests.
  
•         Joint Aspiration: Small fluid samples from A swollen joint can be taken to rule out infection or gout.
  
•         Nodule Biopsy: This can be done to rule out cancer and other abnormal cells.

Role of Homeopathy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Homeopathy works in a holistic way for the management of rheumatoid arthritis in the affected people. The literature of homeopathy has homeopathic medicines that are analgesic and anti-inflammatory in nature. The homeopathic doctor will take down your past history and family history along with your presenting symptoms. The case taking would also include factors that particularly worsen and provide your relief to your symptoms. E.g. some patients observe that their symptoms worsen in the rainy or winter season and in the presence of stress or exertion. Accurately prescribed homeopathic remedies will ease pain, swelling, warmth, and stiffness in joints. These homeopathic medicines will make movements easier and thus boost self-confidence and reduce dependency on others. Homeopathy can also control the frequency of fever and prevent complications such as deformities which would worsen life more. The medicines would target your immune system and bring into less attacking mode. The homeopathic prescription will also be based on the situation which leads to the development of rheumatoid arthritis in the patient.

Anemia is very common in patients of rheumatoid arthritis and can be controlled with homeopathic remedies prescribed after complete case taking. Gradual homeopathic treatment can decrease your need for conventional pain killers and anti-inflammatory medicines which are harmful in the long run. By taking prescribed homeopathic remedies, one can stay protected from complications of RA that involve the heart, liver, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, and blood. One can also remain protected from osteoporosis and associated risk of fracture and erosions of bones.

With the betterment of symptoms, the person’s overall health improves. The disease can be sent into a remission period with proper homeopathic treatment i.e. the patient will seem to recover in that particular period.

Some of the commonly prescribed remedies for rheumatoid arthritis include Rhus tox, Ruta, Bryonia and many more. One should never self-prescribe homeopathic medicines. Please take homeopathic medicines as and when prescribed by your homeopathic doctor.