“Can surgery help in treating rheumatoid arthritis?”

These days rheumatologists have a variety of medications they prescribe to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Untreated, RA can result in permanent severe structural joint damage that is treated with joint replacement surgery which is usually successful and can greatly reduce pain and improve function but the goal is to get treated before it gets that bad. Patient's with RA suffer from an inflammatory autoimmune reaction that is mediated through the synovial lining of your tendons and joints. There are many medications that can suppress this immune process and prevent the damage while also relieving the pain caused by inflammation.

Surgery can be very helpful in the treatment of many rheumatoid joints that have been severely damaged by the disease and are no longer amenable to medical or conservative treatment. Consult with your rheumatologist and orthopedic surgeon for advice.

Yes, but it depends on the body part that is involved.

In general the pain of rheumatoid arthritis is treated with medication. Surgery is the last option for the treatment of pain associated with RA. It is used only when medicine has failed and must have realistic goals set by the patient and surgeon. Surgery is used to improve function as well as help pain which has failed other treatment modalities

Generically speaking, surgery is not used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Medication is the main treatment. However, deformities and end-stage rheumatoid change will at times require surgical intervention.

Can surgery help in treating rheumatoid arthritis?? Yes, surgery can improve pain and function in joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis. However, surgery is usually reserved for more advanced cases of joint destruction and/or deformity. Medication remains the initial treatment of choice.