Rheumatoid Arthritis

Signature Health Services can assist you with Rheumatoid Arthritis needs at home.

Rheumatoid arthritis and how we care for it

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that can induce joint pain, inflammation, and damage throughout your body. These issues affecting the joints typically happen on both sides of the body.

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

The exact cause isn’t known or fully understood. However, the cause is known to involve an interaction of three things: genes, the immune system, and environmental factors.

What are some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?

Normally, harmless bacteria in the GI tract (many of which aid in digestion) aren’t harmed by the immune system response. But with Rheumatoid Arthritis, these bacteria are mistaken for harmful invaders—triggering cells to travel out of the blood to the gastrointestinal tract, producing inflammation. This may lead to Chron’s symptoms when inflammation doesn’t subside.

This can cause:

Abdominal pain/discomfort
Blood or pus in stool
Fever
Weight loss
Rectal bleeding
Frequent, recurring diarrhea
Fatigue
Reduced appetite
Tenesmus: A sudden and constant feeling that you have to move your bowels
Common symptoms can include diarrhea, anemia, joint pain or soreness, and nausea.

Is there a cure for rheumatoid arthritis?

There is currently no documented cure for rheumatoid arthritis. However, effective treatment options are available to manage the condition and limit the damage. Treatments include medication, dietary changes, and specialized exercises.

Can you care for rheumatoid arthritis with skilled home nursing?

Yes, close monitoring of patients can help patients seek treatment before conditions get ahead of treatment, ensuring patients comply with a treatment plan, medication education, injections at home every eight weeks (depending on the medication), and teaching you about proper nutrition and diet planning.

How much does rheumatoid arthritis treatment cost in Houston, Texas?

The cost of treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis varies, but medication and home health care can even be free if covered by Medicare or your Medicare Advantage plan.

For more information on how Signature Health Services can help with your healthcare needs, please call 1 (800) 277-8291 (option 1) or email information@signaturehealthservices.net.