Stem Cell Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis | Cellebration Wellness
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Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, is a chronic (long-lasting) and debilitating autoimmune disease that can impact nearly every aspect of a person’s life. RA causes the body’s own immune system to attack its own tissue. This can include joint tissues and, in severe cases, the sufferer’s internal organs. Rheumatoid arthritis can negatively impact various parts of the body and bodily functions, these include:
- Affecting the lining of the joints, which can cause damage to the tissues that cover the bone ends in elbows, knees, and other joints.
- Can occur in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that it will generally affect either hands or both knees simultaneously.
- Can cause problems to the lungs, heart, blood, skin, eyes, and nerves.
- Can affect the feet, knees, jaw, spine, elbows, hands, shoulders, or wrists.
Currently, medical professionals do not know what triggers rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are various factors that may lead to the development of RA. These include:
- Genes: There are certain genes that may impact how the immune system functions, which can lead to RA. However, there are cases where people who have the specific genes never develop rheumatoid arthritis.
- Environment: Smoking cigarettes, inhalants, gum disease, viruses, bacteria, and lung disease can all play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sex hormones: There is a strong connection between sex hormones and the development of RA, especially when environmental or genetic factors are involved.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for this condition.
How Many People Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
In the United States, nearly 1.3 million, or 0.6% to 1% of the total population, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. RA is twice as likely to affect women as men. On a global scale, up to 1% of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. Around 75% of the total cases are females. Even though rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone at any age, the majority of people who are diagnosed are between the ages of 30 years old and 50 years old.
What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
This chronic inflammatory disorder can impact nearly every joint in your body. In some cases, RA can damage various other systems in the body. This can include the lungs, skin, eyes, blood vessels, and heart.
Rheumatoid arthritis comes with various symptoms that impact all patients differently. Some of the most common symptoms that are reported include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Warm, tender, and swollen joints
- The loss of appetite
- Fevers or elevated temperatures
- Joint stiffness, which is typically worse in the mornings and following any periods of inactivity
Approximately 40% of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis also experience symptoms that do not involve the joints in their bodies. Some of the areas of the body that may be affected by this disease include:
- Eyes
- Skin
- Hear
- Lungs
- Bone marrow
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Salivary glands
- Kidneys
In some patients, the symptoms may come and go periodically. For many, the signs and symptoms can vary in severity. Patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis often experience flares, which are periods of increased activity. They can also alternate periods of remission, where the pain and swelling associated with RA seem to disappear or fade away.
Over time, RA can result in deformities and shifting in the joints of the body. Even though there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are various treatment options that doctors often prescribe to patients in order to help alleviate some of the symptoms they experience due to this chronic disorder.
What Treatment Options are Available for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
When it comes to treating RA, patients often use a combination of medication and therapy. In some instances, surgery may be required.
There are several types of medications that people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis take. The first type of medication that is commonly prescribed are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medications are designed to alleviate some of the inflammation that patients experience, as well as pain.
Another medication that is commonly prescribed are various corticosteroids. These medications, such as prednisone, are provided to reduce some of the pain and inflammation that patients experience, as well as slow joint damage that they suffer from.
Conventional DMARDs are also routinely prescribed for RA. These medications are designed to delay the progression of RA and help to save the tissues and joints from permanent damage. Trexall and Otrexup are two of the most common medications prescribed for this.
Biologic agents are another common form of medication provided to patients. These are generally considered as a newer class of DMARD medications. These medications are generally most effective when they are combined with conventional DMARD medications. Targeted synthetic DMARDs are another option for treatment.
Therapy, such as occupational therapy or physical therapy, can help RA sufferers keep their joints flexible. Therapy is also utilized by patients in order to learn new ways to perform various tasks in their daily lives. For example, patients can learn how to pick up objects without using their hands and so forth.
In severe cases, surgery may be required. Surgery can help patients restore some of their abilities to use their joints and can also help to relieve some of the pain they experience. Common surgeries include joint fusions, tendon repairs, total joint replacements, or synovectomy, which is the removal of the inflamed lining within the joints.
More recently, we have seen various studies performed surrounding the use of mesenchymal stem cells. These studies have provided promising results when it comes to providing relief to rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
Take the first step toward a healthier future. Contact Cellebration Wellness at 858-258-5090 to learn how stem cell therapy can benefit you.
