RE: The Pain Beneath My Bones: My Battle with an Autoimmune Disease (RA)

Sorry to hear about your sickness. I hope one day a convincing therapy against rheumatoid arthritis will be found! 🤗

I really don't know if the information below is helpful, but I gave it a try asked the AI DeepSeek about what one can do against rheumatoid arthritis. That was the answer:

What Helps Against Rheumatoid Arthritis?

1. Medical Treatments

Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs):

Methotrexate (first-line treatment), Leflunomide, Sulfasalazine.

Slow disease progression and prevent joint damage.

Biologics (Targeted Therapy):

TNF inhibitors (e.g., Adalimumab, Etanercept), IL-6 blockers (e.g., Tocilizumab).

For moderate/severe RA when DMARDs fail.

JAK Inhibitors:

Tofacitinib, Baricitinib – oral options for resistant RA.

NSAIDs & Steroids:

Ibuprofen, Prednisone – for short-term pain/swelling relief (not long-term solutions).

2. Lifestyle & Natural Support

Anti-Inflammatory Diet:

Focus on: Fatty fish (salmon), olive oil, berries, leafy greens, turmeric.

Avoid: Processed foods, excess sugar, red meat.

Exercise:

Low-impact activities (swimming, yoga, walking) to maintain joint mobility.

Stress Management:

Chronic stress worsens flares. Try meditation or deep breathing.

Heat/Cold Therapy:

Heat for stiffness, cold for acute swelling.

3. Emerging/Alternative Options

Acupuncture: May reduce pain for some patients.

Probiotics: Gut health may influence inflammation (research ongoing).

CBD Oil: Anecdotal reports of pain relief, but evidence is limited.

Critical Notes:

Early treatment is key to preventing irreversible joint damage.

No cure exists, but remission is possible with aggressive therapy.

Smoking worsens RA – quitting helps medication efficacy.

Source: American College of Rheumatology guidelines.