Conditions

4 Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Signs You Should Know

It’s important to know the early rheumatoid arthritis signs so you can get treatment right away if you have the disease. The sooner you get treatment, the better your outlook is going to be for your joints. So, what are the earliest signs and symptoms of the disease? While arthritis is a unique condition that can cause a wide variety of differing symptoms in different people, here are the 4 top earliest signs that the majority of patients experience at the outset of the disease.

1.  Joint pain–Pain of unknown cause in the joints is usually one of the first rheumatoid arthritis signs to appear. You may or may not experience swelling in the joints at this point. Early on, it may simply be pain of an unknown origin. Some doctors may even think you injured your joints somehow. It’s only when the pain goes on for a few weeks without let-up that physicians may begin to suspect something more insidious going on.

2.  General feelings of malaise–Flu-like symptoms are common in the early stages of this disease. You may experience low-grade fever, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle aches, and other symptoms generally associated with the flu. However, they may last for weeks and be resistant to antibiotic treatment, making flu an unlikely culprit.

3.  Morning stiffness of the affected joints–Joints that are becoming affected by rheumatoid arthritis may begin to be stiff in the mornings, and this stiffness could take an hour more more to work itself out. Some people find they have to take hot baths first thing when they wake up, just to work out the stiffness. This stiffness is caused from joint fluid thickening from lack of movement during the night and requires sustained movement to bring it to a viscosity where easy movement is possible again for the rest of the day.

4.  Inflammation in the joints–Finally, the joints that are affected by the disease will become inflamed. This means they will be warm or hot to the touch, and may even be red in appearance. One of the most common rheumatoid arthritis signs is that the inflammation is present on the same joint on both sides of the body (such as both elbows or both knees). However, this isn’t always the case, so be sure to have a doctor check out any joint inflammation you may be experiencing. Once you’ve had these early symptoms examined and have a definite diagnosis, you can start to get treatment that may save your joints from destruction and preserve your independence for decades to come, which is one of the most important things you can do for your health once you’re diagnosed.

Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis–What Does It Mean to You?

If you’ve been told that you have seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, you’re probably wondering exactly what that is. It’s not unusual for your doctor to not fully explain it to you. All that you’ll usually be told is that you did not test positive for the rheumatoid factor. The rheumatoid factor is an immunoglobulin antibody that is found in the blood of around 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis and is a common diagnostic tool for the disease. However, a certain number of people with the symptoms of the disease no not have this antibody. If that describes you, what does it mean for your prognosis?

First of all, this antibody is found in about 1 to 2% of perfectly healthy people, and it increases in incidence with people above the age of 65. Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is also found far more frequently in people with the juvenile form of the disease (acquired in childhood). The longer someone has the disease, the greater likelihood there is for the antibody to appear, though in some people it never appears.

The one major difference that medical studies have found is that people with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis seem to have less overall joint erosion and damage than people who test positive for the antibody, and usually do not develop nodules under the skin, as the positive group tends to do. Otherwise, the symptoms and progress of the disease appears to be similar in both groups. So, if you test negative for the antibody, you will still likely experience joint swelling, stiffness, and damage, but not to as great a degree as those who test positive. It may be small comfort, but it is some consolation nonetheless. If you are negative, appreciate the fact that you’ve been given somewhat of a reprieve–your symptoms, though they are there, could have been much worse, so you are among the lucky group that may be able to retain your joint function and independence longer than other patients with the disease, maybe even throughout your entire life.

About Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Approximately 1.3 million adults were living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to produce chemicals which attack its own tissues rather than protecting them. RA can flare when the immune system responds incorrectly to an infection or another external factor, causing the lining and other tissues around joints to become inflamed. Rheumatoid arthritis is sometimes called a systematic disease because it can affect other organs, not just the joints. A characteristic symptom of RA is inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues, which can lead to permanent damage and deformity. Many people who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis experience periods of pain and stiffness as well as periods of little to no symptoms. The symptoms of RA occur when the disease is active, and subside during periods of remission. Often, joints on both sides of the body are affected at the same time, for instance, both knees. Some symptoms that are commonly associated with the condition are stiffness (particularly in the morning or after rest), inflammation of the joints, reduced range of motion, pain, puffiness and even fever. Movement or pressure on the affected joints typically becomes more painful. Since RA is a chronic condition with no cure, treatment programs are usually intended to help the affected person function with less pain while reducing the extent of long term damage that may occur as a result of the condition. Treatment is personalized by medical professionals for each patient with RA and is specific to his or her situation and lifestyle. Some methods used in the treatment of RA are:

A recent development called the Jstim 1000® Therapy System utilizes a combination of compression and infrared heat designed to help alleviate the pain associated with RA of the hands. Research aimed at determining the cause, creating effective treatments and hopefully finding a cure for rheumatoid arthritis is ongoing. Note: This information is not intended to supplement or replace advice from a medical professional, or to diagnose or treat any condition.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Herbal Remedies – 5 Amazing Ingredients For Pain Relief That Never Fail!

A lot of people are turning to rheumatoid arthritis herbal remedies after knowing about the adverse side effects of various prescription drugs for arthritis. Find out the expert facts in this article that you need to take the best health decision for yourself.Cox-2 inhibitor drugs have come under a lot of scrutiny, especially after the removal of Vioxx (manufactured by Merck) from the market. It was the Cox-2 inhibitor drug that was reported to significantly increase the probability of heart attack and stroke. In fact, thousands of lawsuits are still pending against it.Another common form of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is the use of NSAIDs. Prescription drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin fall in this category. Although they are effective for pain relief in the short term, but they can lead to health problems such as gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, stomach infections, etc. if they are taken in large doses for a long period of time.Corticosteroids are also used to control inflammation. But they also suffer from serious side effects and are at best, only an effective short-term solution for rheumatoid arthritis.Rheumatoid arthritis herbal remedies are much better, effective and natural alternative of treatment. Here are 5 natural ingredients that can be very helpful –1) Devil’s claw root — it helps to fight inflammation. But, it is also known to aggravate certain health conditions such as aggravating acid reflux and peptic ulcers.2) Turmeric — it contains curcumin and has got amazing anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used since ages for relief in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.3) Feverfew — its extract are well-known to prevent inflammation and treat fevers since centuries.4) Ginger — it is one of the most popular rheumatoid arthritis herbal remedies. Fresh ginger contains excellent anti-inflammatory properties and helps to reduce inflammation and provide effective pain relief in symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.5) Fish Oil Supplements — Besides the above natural ingredients, omega-3 fatty acids play one of the most important roles as rheumatoid arthritis herbal remedies. They contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties as well as many other health benefits for our body including the heart, brain, skin, digestive system, joints, and hair.The proper intake of Omega 3 fatty acids in diet through supplements has been proven to reduce tenderness in joints, reduce inflammation and pain, and provide greater joint mobility. Unfortunately, the average Western diet is highly deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids.Molecularly distilled or “pharmaceutical grade” fish oil supplements are one of the best means to achieve a proper supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids on a daily basis. They are also free of the risk of harmful toxins and contaminants such as mercury, lead, PCBs, etc. that are found in the flesh of fish when it is consumed directly.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Cause Hidden, Treatment Ignored

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common of several autoimmune diseases that primarily affect the joints.

It is characterized by abnormal inflammatory responses that damage the synovial lining of the joints and other tissues. Components of the immune system mistakenly identify normal body tissues as potentially harmful organisms and attack them causing substantial collateral damage.

This results in joint pain, swelling and permanent damage to joint cartilage and the underlying bone. Other parts of the body such as the blood, nerves and heart may also be affected in severe cases.

Moreover the conventional drugs used in the treatment of RA often cause as many health problems as the disease itself. Bone marrow and immune suppression, liver toxicity, osteoporosis and stomach ulcer are some of the common side effects produced by these drugs.

While antibiotics also have potential side effects, they are generally fewer and milder than those associated with the conventional drugs used in the treatment of RA.

TYPES OF INFECTIONS CAUSING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Most scientists agree that infections initiate the abnormal inflammatory response seen in RA patients. The theory is that the immune system reacts to an infection of some sort and then becomes confused between the antigens on the pathogenic organism and similar antigens on normal body tissues. The conventional view is that the infection is only a transient trigger of the autoimmune response and not a persistent factor underlying its chronic progression.

However, countless studies have shown that there are indeed a number of chronic, “hidden” infections underlying RA. Some of the pathogenic organisms have been found in the joints of RA patients but mostly these low-grade infections occur in areas such as the genito-urinary tract, mouth or intestines. They work indirectly from these areas by sustaining the aberrant inflammatory response so characteristic of RA.

Mycoplasma, chlamydia, E.coli, and proteus are all bacteria that are capable of causing the low-grade, asymptomatic urinary tract infections that underlie RA. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a bacteria that causes gingivitis and periodontitis and also has a strong association with RA.

Although lab tests often confirm the presence of one or more of these infections, negative results do not preclude an infectious cause of an individual’s disease.

Because many of the infections underlying RA are so difficult to find, even those patients who do not have positive lab tests should be treated with antibiotics.

ANTBIOTICS USED TO TREAT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

For many years the mainstay of antibiotic treatment for RA has been minocycline or other tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline. These of antibiotics are still very useful as they also have anti-inflammatory properties and stimulate the regeneration of damaged joint cartilage.

However many bacteria have developed resistance to the tetracyclines and it is now common practice to use combinations with other antibacterials such as azithromycin, clindamycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin and others.

RESULTS OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT FOR RA

Patients may notice improvements in their symptoms anywhere from days, weeks or months, depending on how long they have the disease. They must also expect to remain on the antibiotics for several months to over a year until full remission occurs.

Information from doctors who have used this treatment for many years show that at least 80% of patients benefit from this relatively simple therapeutic modality.

WHY IS THIS EFFECTIVE TREATMENT NOT WIDELY AVAILABLE

There are two reasons for the delay in getting this “new” treatment more widely accepted:

Firstly there is the research “time-lag effect” ? the period it takes from the time a new medical discovery is made until it is accepted and implemented by the majority of doctors. This interval may be over 20 years long.

Secondly, in spite of extensive evidence that certain organisms are associated with RA and other autoimmune diseases, no one specific organism has been shown to be responsible for this group of diseases. This is because autoimmune diseases comprise a spectrum of overlapping conditions that can be caused by several types of microbes located in various parts of the body.

REFERENCES

1. Effects of clarithromycin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Mar;23(3):515-22

2. Levofloxacin treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving methotrexate, M Ogrendik, South Med J. 2007 Feb;100(2):135-9.

3. Single-blind randomized trial of combination antibiotic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis, Gompels LL, Smith A, Charles PJ, Rogers W, Soon-Shiong J, Mitchell A, Dore C, Taylor PW, Mackworth-Young CG. J Rheumatol. 2006 Feb;33(2):224-7.

4. Treatment of early seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: Doxycycline plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone. O’dell JR, Elliott JR, Mallek JA, Mikuls TR, Weaver CA, Glickstein S, Blakely KM, Hausch R, Leff RD, , Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Feb;54(2):621-7. University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.

5. Treatment of early seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: a two-year, double-blind comparison of minocycline and hydroxychloroquine. O’Dell JR, Blakely KW, Mallek JA, Eckhoff PJ, Leff RD, Wees SJ, Sems KM, Fernandez AM, Palmer WR, Klassen LW, Paulsen GA, Haire CE, Moore GF – Arthritis & Rheumatism 2001 Oct;44(10):2235-41

What Are The Symptoms Of Rheumatoid arthritis?

RA or Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that is chronic in nature. It weakens the immune system and the body joints start getting weaker. RA causes inflammation and eventually destroys the joints. It also affects the other organs like the lungs and the skin in rare cases.

A person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis tends to feel some sort of disability and tremendous pain in the joints. It leads to substantial loss of mobility and mostly the patients should confine to resting. This disease can be diagnosed through blood tests and also by X-rays. The test is known as rheumatoid factor and this is generally carried out by the rheumatologists. They are specialists who treat diseases related to joints and the connective tissues.

This disease can be treated in a variety of ways. The non pharmacological therapies include physical and occupational therapies. The various drugs involved in treating this disorder include Analgesia and drugs with anti inflammatory properties. Steroids are used in suppressing the symptoms of RA.

Drugs known as disease modifying antirheumatic drugs is used in reversing the whole process of the disease and also helps in preventing long term effects. In the recent times biologists have developed a lot of new treatment techniques that are used extensively to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused because of synovitis which is an inflammation of synovial membrane. Due to this the joints become swollen and a little stiff. The joints also become slightly warm and soft. It mainly occurs in the joints of hands, cervical spine, and also the feet. Bigger joints like shoulder and the knee joint can also get affected. Synovitis leads to the erosion of joint surfaces and may lead to deformity and also loss of functionality.

The inflammation of the joints occurs that would make the joints soft, and kind of doughy. It would also cause pain and palpation on the joints. This can be used to distinguish between RA and other inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis. In RA, the joints will be affected in a symmetrical fashion and later turn asymmetrical. Rheumatoid arthritis is bound to affect different parts of the body apart from the joints like skin, lungs, kidney, heart and the blood vessels.

Diagnosis of RA

RA can be diagnosed with different techniques. X ray is used for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. X-ray of both, hands and feet is carried out on people who are having polyarthritis. The x-ray will help in checking whether there is any erosion or resorption. Blood test will help in immunological studies of RA. Blood test will help in testing the presence of antibodies like rheumatoid factor. If the blood tests are positive then the person has RA.

A negative report does not really mean that the person is not having RA. In a lot of cases the initial tests are declared negative but after a while they turn out to be positive. Loads of criterions have to be followed while performing diagnostic tests. At least four of the criteria should be met in order to prove that a person is an RA patient. Rheumatoid arthritis does have cure and proper treatment can heal the case completely or to an extent.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

RA or Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that is chronic in nature. It weakens the immune system and the body joints start getting weaker. RA causes inflammation and eventually destroys the joints. It also affects the other organs like the lungs and the skin in rare cases.

A person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis tends to feel some sort of disability and tremendous pain in the joints. It leads to substantial loss of mobility and mostly the patients should confine to resting. This disease can be diagnosed through blood tests and also by X-rays. The test is known as rheumatoid factor and this is generally carried out by the rheumatologists. They are specialists who treat diseases related to joints and the connective tissues.

This disease can be treated in a variety of ways. The non pharmacological therapies include physical and occupational therapies. The various drugs involved in treating this disorder include Analgesia and drugs with anti inflammatory properties. Steroids are used in suppressing the symptoms of RA. Drugs known as disease modifying antirheumatic drugs is used in reversing the whole process of the disease and also helps in preventing long term effects. In the recent times biologists have developed a lot of new treatment techniques that are used extensively to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused because of synovitis which is an inflammation of synovial membrane. Due to this the joints become swollen and a little stiff. The joints also become slightly warm and soft. It mainly occurs in the joints of hands, cervical spine, and also the feet. Bigger joints like shoulder and the knee joint can also get affected. Synovitis leads to the erosion of joint surfaces and may lead to deformity and also loss of functionality.

The inflammation of the joints occurs that would make the joints soft, and kind of doughy. It would also cause pain and palpation on the joints. This can be used to distinguish between RA and other inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis. In RA, the joints will be affected in a symmetrical fashion and later turn asymmetrical. Rheumatoid arthritis is bound to affect different parts of the body apart from the joints like skin, lungs, kidney, heart and the blood vessels.

Diagnosis of RA

RA can be diagnosed with different techniques. X ray is used for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. X-ray of both, hands and feet is carried out on people who are having polyarthritis. The x-ray will help in checking whether there is any erosion or resorption. Blood test will help in immunological studies of RA. Blood test will help in testing the presence of antibodies like rheumatoid factor. If the blood tests are positive then the person has RA.

A negative report does not really mean that the person is not having RA. In a lot of cases the initial tests are declared negative but after a while they turn out to be positive. Loads of criterions have to be followed while performing diagnostic tests. At least four of the criteria should be met in order to prove that a person is an RA patient. Rheumatoid arthritis does have cure and proper treatment can heal the case completely or to an extent.

What is Elderly-onset Rheumatoid Arthritis and How Should it be Treated?

Elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is a misnomer since it refers to rheumatoid arthritis affecting people 60 years of age or older. Since this author recently reached the age of 60 and certainly doesn’t consider himself elderly, the definition should be changed.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects 2% of those 60 years old and older and is generally more common among women. When RA presents in patients past the age of 60, it may present with an acute onset, with significant inflammatory symptoms, and predominant upper extremity involvement, eg. shoulders. Inflammatory markers in the blood such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) may be greatly elevated.
Diagnostic testing is similar to that for diagnosing RA in younger individuals. Acute phase reactants for inflammation such as the ESR and CRP will invariably be abnormal. Serologic testing for rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) are helpful.
The diagnostic imaging procedure of choice is probably magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although diagnostic ultrasound may be useful.
Other disease processes that need to be excluded include: calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), osteoarthritis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), arthritis associated with infections such as hepatitis B,C , and immunodeficiency virus. Tuberculosis and fungal infections such as histoplasmosis, coccidiomycosis, and blastomycosis can also present with inflammation of many joints.
Endocrine disorders such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease may also present with diagnostic challenges.
Malignancy is another consideration. An inflammatory arthritis affecting many joints in a patient over the age of 60 should lead the physician to working up the patient for an underlying malignancy. Also, certain malignancies such as lymphoma are increased in incidence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The treatment of EORA presents special challenges. First, a patient with RA past the age of 60 probably has other medical conditions. Second, they are probably on multiple medications. The diagnosis may be confounded by the fact the both ESR and rheumatoid factor can be elevated in older patients who don’t have RA. Finally, treatment with medications needs to be tempered with the knowledge that potential side-effects may be increased in this population where drug metabolism is less certain than that of younger patients.
Nonetheless, the approach to therapy for patients with EORA is not substantially different from the treatment strategies employed for younger patients.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are often used early on in younger patients. However, in older patients who may develop kidney and liver toxicity with these agents, the use of NSAIDS is probably a strategy that has to be watched closely.
Low dose prednisone (5-10mgs) given as a single morning dose provides symptomatic relief and can serve as a “bridge” until the effects of second line agents begin. The potential complications of long-term prednisone therapy such as osteoporosis and cataracts, among others, will be more of a concern than for younger patients.
Second line agents consist of two groups. They are the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) and the biologic drugs.
Disease-modifying drugs such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), and leflunomide (Arava) are all potentially useful. Obviously, with older patients, potential toxicities and drug interactions need to be monitored for carefully.
Biologic therapies can also be used for patients with EORA. TNF inhibitors such as etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade, and the two newer agents golimumab (Simponi), and certolizumab (Cimzia) are all effective and well tolerated in the older population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Second line biologics such as rituximab (Rituxan) and abatacept (Orencia) have also been used in patients with EORA with results comparable to that for younger patients.
Advancing age should not, by itself, be a contraindication to the use of biologic therapies. The aim for older patients, as it is with younger patients, is to establish remission. This may be even more important in older patients since independence is cherished more. Finally, since cardiovascular events are an established complication of rheumatoid arthritis and are also more common in older adults, every effort should be instituted to establish and maintain remission.

Rheumatoid Arthritis And Nursing Care

Rheumatoid arthritis is a horrible disease, it can strike you at any age, it is always delivering disease flare-ups and often followed by remission. Rheumatoid arthritis can strike numerous joints at one time which can always cause permanent deterioration and deformity.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that always gets worser after a period of time and leads to painful swelling and permanent damage in the joints of the body particularly the wrists, feet, fingers, ankle and so on.

The injured tissues cause reddening, swelling and pain in the particular area. Apart from inflammatory joints, this disease can even hit one’s internal organs such as lungs, eyes and heart. It is therefore a systemic ailment that often produces excruciating intolerable pain.

A burning pain in the joints  that last for one month or more at a stretch indicates Rheumatoid Arthritis. You should take some action,however,if the pain travels to your sacroiliac joints of lower back or to the upper spine, the disease is other than this one.

Early treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is very important. for the prevention of a worse state of affairs. Some years ago, many rheumatoid arthritis patients were disabled within the first two to three years of this disease. It is a known fact that some people are more susceptible than others to the joint damage and disability associated with the disease. For this reason, not all patients require an aggressive treatment.

When the rheumatoid arthritis is moderate to severe, drugs like Trexakk, Arava, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade and Rheumatrex may be prescribed. when Stronger, newer drugs, such as Orencia and Rituxan are needed to patients who don’t respond well to the above drugs.

A very important thing is taking a healthier approach towards your lifestyle which will also ease the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. This includes losing weight and not smoking, as well as eating a balanced diet filled with fruits, vegetables, protein, low-fat dairy, vitamin C and calcium.

Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis – What You Don’t Know About Prescription Drugs Might Shock You!

Managing rheumatoid arthritis requires a holistic approach. There has been a lot of research going on for the prevention, cure and management of rheumatoid arthritis and a lot of positive developments have come up in the recent years. Find out the expert facts in this article.A lot of prescription drugs are available for managing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Pain relievers such as Cox-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs do not prevent the disease from developing and also suffer from various side effects that might even prove fatal.Safer pain relievers also cause a lot of adverse effect on the kidneys when used for a prolonged period of time in high doses. For a short term and periodic use, they are an effective alternative, but as far as long-term management of rheumatoid arthritis is concerned; their adverse effects on overall health must be taken into consideration.A treatment consisting of corticosteroids is given by injection or orally, on regular intervals. It helps to alleviate inflammation and pain flare-ups, but it is not a very suitable alternative for long-term management of rheumatoid arthritis. They suffer from a lot of side effects such as risk of diabetes, infection and osteoporosis.A supplementation of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet of patients has proven to be very effective in managing rheumatoid arthritis. It helps naturally to reduce inflammation, tenderness and pain in joints, reducing morning stiffness and swollen joints.For a successful management of rheumatoid arthritis, great care should be taken to maintain the optimum balance of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids in the regular diet. Unfortunately, the average Western diet has a proportion of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids of 20:1 in their diet, while the optimal level should be around 3:1 to 5:1.Omega 6 fatty acids play a big role to increase inflammation in the body and this leads to exaggerating arthritis pain, while Omega 3 fatty acids have a natural anti-inflammatory properties, and help to reduce arthritis pain.Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Besides alleviating pain, protecting joints from further damage and boosting the immune system, they also provide a host of other benefits to our overall health including the heart, brain, skin, digestive system, joints, and hair.Therefore, managing rheumatoid arthritis successfully requires that you increase the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids by eating a good amount of fish on a regular basis and taking fish oil supplements, at the same time decreasing the consumption of Omega 6 fatty acids. This will greatly help in the successful long-term management of rheumatoid arthritis naturally.