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A rule of thumb for RA treatment is that the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the easier it will be to control the illness, limit damage and preserve joint mobility. The goal of treatment is to slow development of the disease and reduce its symptoms. When active, RA can cause irreversible damage to joints, even in the first few months of the illness. Spontaneous remission is rare, but if confronted early, RA can be controlled with or without drugs, or surgically. The ideal treatment over time includes physical therapy regimens and regular monitoring by a specialist. The prerequisites for effective treatment are:
- Correctly diagnosing RA and ruling out other types of arthritis.
- Patient education and rehabilitation.
- NSAID treatment (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as aspirin, which has proven anti-inflammatory and painkilling effects.
- Treatment with anti-rheumatic medicines, to reduce severity of various ailments brought on by the disease.
- Local or general application of corticosteroids.
- Maintaining good general health.
At present there is no single specific cure for RA. The best treatment is early diagnosis and progressive use of medicines to reduce irreversible joint damage.
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