If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, pain relief is likely your primary interest. This degenerative disease can be extremely painful and uncomfortable when it flares up. Basically, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the joints around the ankles, wrists, fingers and hands.

The tissue that surrounds the joint, called synovial fluid, allows for smooth movement between the bones. Rheumatoid arthritis develops when this fluid becomes damaged, causing inflammation, pain and swelling of the joints. This inflammation can eventually destroy the joint, eating away at the cartilage and bone.

No one knows what triggers the inflammation, but it's thought to be an autoimmune disease in which the immune system creates antibodies that fight against the body's tissues. It is unclear why this occurs, but it's a common illness that affects millions of people and tends to run in families. It can develop at any age, but usually starts in the latter part of middle age.

The Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The most common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is acute pain and swelling in the joints along with a hot sensation and almost burning pain. Also associated with the disease are flu-like symptoms which include general aches, pains and fever. The initial onset of the disease is marked by morning stiffness of the affected joints.

Following are typical methods to treat this painful disease.

Contemporary Pain Medicine

The medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are pain relievers like acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs have the added benefit of reducing inflammation as well as pain. Corticosteroids are given orally to treat severe or aggressive forms of the disease.

Physical Therapy as Treatment

Hydrotherapy is effective for soothing pain and is one of the oldest treatments for arthritis pain relief. It's often used in conjunction with other treatments. Thermotherapy is the application of heat or cold to sore joints, which can also ease pain.

Most physiotherapists recommend regular exercise and joint and muscle strengthening activities. Generally, an easy exercise routine that includes both strengthening and aerobic activity is recommended.

Managing the Disease Through Diet

If you're overweight and suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, weight loss is important. Follow an anti-inflammatory program that excludes dairy and processed foods, avoids excess gluten and sugar, and includes the herbs ginger, curcumin and tumeric.

In addition to relieving pressure on the joints, the diet associated with weight loss can also improve your overall health. Finally, fish oil and flaxseed oil are critical anti-inflammatories that can be very helpful.

Bryonia Pain Relief

Bryonia is a homeopathic treatment designed to reduce the heat and swelling of joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis. It's a natural arthritis pain relief treatment that's also believed to regulate toxicity levels in the joints and therefore reduce instances of inflammation.

Homeopaths believe that applying pressure to the joints can provide both temporary and ongoing pain relief.

For those who suffer from this painful disease - which can cloud the vibrancy of each day with discomforting gloom - relief is often foremost on their minds. There are at least a few viable options to provide temporary distance from the pain.