Rheumatoid Arthritis (Content Program)
How We Can Help You for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (pronounced "RUE-ma-toid are-THRIE-tiss”) is an autoimmune condition that causes joint pain, damages bone and cartilage, and makes daily activities difficult. Our board-certified doctors have the specialized training and extensive experience needed to effectively diagnose and treat this condition.
Our multidisciplinary team develops a complete, compassionate care plan customized to your condition and unique needs. The goal of the plan is to help relieve your symptoms, which may include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, fatigue, and dry eyes.
The plan is also designed to help support your overall health and quality of life, to help you enjoy the most active lifestyle possible.
Stanford patients with rheumatoid arthritis also may have opportunities to participate in research studies of new treatment approaches not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Center of Excellence for advanced care of rheumatoid arthritis, other forms of arthritis, and the full range of orthopaedic conditions.
- Nationally recognized expertise in effectively treating all cases of rheumatoid arthritis, no matter how complex.
- Precise diagnosis including a thorough medical history and physical exam plus use of blood tests and the latest imaging technology.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together orthopaedic specialists, physical therapists, and others to tailor care to your needs.
- Advanced treatment options emphasizing noninvasive approaches, including medication therapy, assistive devices, physical therapy, and, when needed, state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgery.
- Comprehensive support services including care coordination from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up.
- Active research program to develop new advances in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that happens when your immune system attacks the tissue that lines your joints, causing painful swelling. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis damages bone and cartilage, making daily activities difficult.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to inflammation in other parts of your body, including the skin, eyes, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Inflammation in these areas puts you at a higher risk for conditions that affect your breathing, blood flow, and heart health.
The condition has no cure, but Stanford’s orthopaedic specialists provide treatment to relieve symptoms and control the disease. Our experts offer nonsurgical and surgical options to help you manage your condition so you can live as comfortably as possible.
Stanford's highly trained, orthopaedic specialists help you manage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Medication
Surgery
For the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, we begin with conservative treatment. Your treatment options may include:
Self-care
Our specialists recommend getting enough rest, protecting your joints from overuse, and eating a healthy diet to help reduce pain.
Physical and occupational therapy
Stanford’s physical therapists help improve joint function with exercise, heat and cold therapy, and massage. Our occupational therapists can teach you exercises and other techniques to maintain joint movement while carrying out your daily activities.
Assistive devices
Stanford’s physical therapists can teach you to use household and mobility aids (like walkers, stair lifts, and shower grab bars). These aids can help you remain mobile and independent.
Behavioral modification
Our experts can help you practice techniques such as biofeedback, breathing exercises, and muscle relaxation to reduce pain and stress.
Counseling and emotional support
Seeking support from loved ones and Stanford's trained mental health professionals can help you cope with long-term pain and disability.
We can also treat rheumatoid arthritis with one or more medications, such as:
Pain medicine
Our orthopaedic team may recommend trying over-the-counter oral pain medications, such as acetaminophen, to relieve mild pain. We may also suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to reduce pain and swelling in your joints.
Steroids
Stanford’s experts may suggest these fast-acting medications if you have increased inflammation or severe pain. Steroids can have serious side effects, so we prescribe them only as needed, using appropriate dosages.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Our team may suggest these drugs that help maintain joints and reduce pain by blocking inflammation.
Biologics
Stanford uses this form of drug therapy to target specific parts of your immune system to keep it from attacking healthy bone and tissue. Biologics may affect people differently, but our experts can help you find the one that works best for you.
If nonsurgical treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, you may need surgery. Stanford’s orthopaedic surgeons perform both conventional “open” procedures and advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques. Your care may include:
Arthrodesis (joint fusion)
We fuse together the joint bones to create one long bone. Arthrodesis stops the joint from moving, but it reduces pain from the bones rubbing together.
Arthroscopy
We use an instrument with a small camera (known as a scope) to look inside the joint and repair cartilage or smooth rough surfaces.
Joint replacement
Your surgeon uses minimally invasive techniques to remove damaged hip, knee, or shoulder joints and replace them with artificial joints.
Synovectomy
Your doctor removes the inflamed or damaged membrane (synovium) that lines the joint. We typically perform synovectomies to reduce pain when inflammation doesn’t respond to medication.
For the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, we begin with conservative treatment. Your treatment options may include:
Self-care
Our specialists recommend getting enough rest, protecting your joints from overuse, and eating a healthy diet to help reduce pain.
Physical and occupational therapy
Stanford’s physical therapists help improve joint function with exercise, heat and cold therapy, and massage. Our occupational therapists can teach you exercises and other techniques to maintain joint movement while carrying out your daily activities.
Assistive devices
Stanford’s physical therapists can teach you to use household and mobility aids (like walkers, stair lifts, and shower grab bars). These aids can help you remain mobile and independent.
Behavioral modification
Our experts can help you practice techniques such as biofeedback, breathing exercises, and muscle relaxation to reduce pain and stress.
Counseling and emotional support
Seeking support from loved ones and Stanford's trained mental health professionals can help you cope with long-term pain and disability.
close Nonsurgical Treatment
We can also treat rheumatoid arthritis with one or more medications, such as:
Pain medicine
Our orthopaedic team may recommend trying over-the-counter oral pain medications, such as acetaminophen, to relieve mild pain. We may also suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to reduce pain and swelling in your joints.
Steroids
Stanford’s experts may suggest these fast-acting medications if you have increased inflammation or severe pain. Steroids can have serious side effects, so we prescribe them only as needed, using appropriate dosages.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Our team may suggest these drugs that help maintain joints and reduce pain by blocking inflammation.
Biologics
Stanford uses this form of drug therapy to target specific parts of your immune system to keep it from attacking healthy bone and tissue. Biologics may affect people differently, but our experts can help you find the one that works best for you.
close Medication
If nonsurgical treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, you may need surgery. Stanford’s orthopaedic surgeons perform both conventional “open” procedures and advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques. Your care may include:
Arthrodesis (joint fusion)
We fuse together the joint bones to create one long bone. Arthrodesis stops the joint from moving, but it reduces pain from the bones rubbing together.
Arthroscopy
We use an instrument with a small camera (known as a scope) to look inside the joint and repair cartilage or smooth rough surfaces.
Joint replacement
Your surgeon uses minimally invasive techniques to remove damaged hip, knee, or shoulder joints and replace them with artificial joints.
Synovectomy
Your doctor removes the inflamed or damaged membrane (synovium) that lines the joint. We typically perform synovectomies to reduce pain when inflammation doesn’t respond to medication.
close Surgery
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!
Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Our Clinics
Stanford’s orthopaedic specialists offer nonsurgical and surgical treatments to help you manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Our experts can reduce your pain and improve your quality of life.
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450 Broadway StreetRedwood City, CA 94063
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