Treatment of swollen hands caused by rheumatoid arthritis includes general treatment, drug treatment, surgical treatment and so on.
1. General treatment: patients with rheumatoid arthritis hand swelling should rest in bed, and can use ice packs to reduce discomfort. After the symptoms are relieved, patients should carry out joint function exercise and take a hot bath to facilitate muscle relaxation.
2. Drug therapy: on the basis of general treatment, patients can follow the doctor’s instructions to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, such as diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen, celecoxib and so on. Or use anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, salazosulfapyridine.
Biologic agents, such as tolizumab, may also be used. Or use glucocorticosteroids, such as prednisone, etc.; in addition, patients can also follow the doctor’s instructions to use traditional Chinese medicine, such as Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, etc., to alleviate the swelling and discomfort of the joints of the hands.
3. Surgery: If necessary, patients can consider artificial joint replacement, synovectomy and other surgical treatments under the advice of doctors.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients with swollen hands are advised to go to the rheumatology and immunology department of regular hospitals and other related departments, and follow the doctor’s instructions to standardize the diagnosis and treatment, do not self-medication.