Arthritis Specialists Arthritis Treatment Dubai United Arab Emirates

This morning I received a call from the mother of a 24 year old girl who lives in Europe. This girl developed joint pains and swelling in May 2007 and had a blood test which showed a positive rheumatoid factor. She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis and saw a rheumatologist who advised aggressive treatment. As is so often the case, the girl and the family were afraid of aggressive management and decided to start on moderate treatments. The disease progressed, more and more drugs were added, all at low or inadequate doses and not controlling the disease properly. Would it not be better for this woman to be on 2medications at the right dose, than 5 at smaller doses? As our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis improves we realize that we should be treating this disease early and aggressively. In my practice several patients who have presented to me within the first year of treatment have been aggressively managed and are currently off all treatments. For the first time we specialists feel that we can cure arthritis. It is essential that the patient is well informed and knows that the medications are not worse than the disease. Fear of medication is not needed and the doctor always must monitor patients closely for side effects. Failure to treat early can result in deformities and disabilities.