Rheumatoid Arthritis: All About Diagnosis And Treatment
Dr. Sajal Ajmani
4 Min Read
Jun 19, 2024
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Rheumatology
Best Rheumatology Hospital In Delhi
Rheumatological diseases are one of the most common disorders in the community affecting about one-third of the adult population. These include a spectrum of disorders ranging from soft tissue rheumatism to arthritis that affects the joints, muscles, and bones. Manipal Hospitals' Rheumatology Department offers complete assessment and management for a wide range of rheumatic problems. The team of world-renowned rheumatologists has immense experience in diagnosing and treating the various musculoskeletal disease, and systemic autoimmune conditions referred to as rheumatic diseases.
OUR STORY
Know About Us
Why Manipal?
Since its inception in 2018, the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Manipal Hospitals, New Delhi is dedicated to the care and management of patients with musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions.
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It is the only rheumatology hospital in Delhi that specialises in over 37 years of experience in the field.
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Since April 2019, approximately 102 procedures of arthrocentesis, intraarticular and intralesional steroid injections have been performed successfully.
Treatment & Procedures
Intra Articular Injection
Intraarticular Injection is a procedure where the affected joint is injected with a hypodermic needle, through which medications are delivered.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
These types of medications reduce pain, joint damage, and inflammation. Doctors will prescribe steroids in case where acute symptoms need relief.
Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs help in slowing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and protect the tissues and joints from permanent damage.
These are also called biologic response modifiers and are a new class of DMARDs. They can target specific parts of the immune system that are prone to triggering inflammation that can cause tissue and joint damage.
Centre of Excellence: Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
Rheumatology is a branch of medicine that deals with musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions. Rheumatic diseases commonly affect the bones, joints, ligaments and muscles often causing deformity, pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Clinical immunology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and disorders of the immune system.
Services offered:
Specialists at the Manipal Hospitals, New Delhi are pioneers in the field of rheumatology and clinical immunology. They are committed to providing comprehensive care for patients with rheumatic diseases and autoimmune disorders. Services provided by the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology include and are not limited to:
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Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that affects your joints causing painful swelling. Over a while, it can lead to bone erosion and joint deformities. Due to inflammation, blood vessels, eyes, heart, skin, and lungs can also be affected.
Your doctor will check for pain, redness, swelling, and warmth in your joints. Depending on the duration and severity of your symptoms you may be recommended medications and imaging tests including:
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X-rays: To track the progression of the disease in your joints
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MRI and Ultrasound Tests: To track the severity of the disease in your body.
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Therapy: Our highly specialised team of physical/occupational therapists may recommend exercises and tools to help keep your joints flexible.
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Surgery: Surgery is recommended when medications fail to prevent or slow joint damage.
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Synovectomy: A thin tube fitted with a camera and light (arthroscopy) is used to get a close-up video image of the joint. The synovium (inflamed joint tissue) is surgically removed.
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Tendon repair: Loose or ruptured tendons around your joint are surgically repaired.
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Finger Joint fusion: The joint is realigned by inserting a plastic or metal rod to fuse the finger bones.
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Total joint replacement: In place of the damaged joint, a prosthesis made of plastic ceramic or metal is inserted which mimics the movement of a normal, healthy joint.
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Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cushion (cartilage) at the end of your bones wears down. Osteoarthritis can affect joints in your knees, spine, hands, and hips. The management of osteoarthritis includes:
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Physical examination: Affected joints are checked for swelling tenderness, redness and flexibility.
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Imaging tests: X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc.
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Medications
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Exercises
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Cortisone injections
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Lubrication injections
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Realigning bones
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Joint replacement.
Manipal Hospitals is the best arthritis treatment hospital in Delhi having the best rheumatologists in Delhi recognized nationally for its surgical techniques and innovative abilities to treat simple to complex problems.
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Childhood arthritis: Childhood arthritis or juvenile arthritis in children can lead to permanent joint disability and make daily activities such as walking, playing and dressing difficult for the child. It can be improved through regular exercise and recommended drug therapy by a rheumatologist if the child reports at the earliest.
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Still's Disease: A rare condition characterised by high fever and joint pain. It can also lead to chronic arthritis. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms of pain and inflammation and suppress immune reactions.
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Polymyalgia rheumatica: It is an inflammatory disorder called giant cell arteries. Most commonly affects women and those aged 50 years and above with severe early morning stiffness of functional muscles. Common symptoms include persistent headaches, pain or tenderness in the jaw, blurred vision or visual loss, scalp tenderness, etc. A biopsy of the artery is performed under local anaesthesia, which is further examined for inflammation.
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Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia causes widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, as well as memory and mood issues. Treatments for fibromyalgia include self-care and medications that reduce pain and improve sleep.
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Spondyloarthropathies: Spondyloarthropathy is an inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the spine and sometimes the joints of the arms and legs. The most common symptom includes low-back pain and swelling of the arms and legs.
Types of spondyloarthropathies include:
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Axial spondyloarthritis: Affects the spine and the sacroiliac joints (the joint that connects the lower spine and pelvis). The most common symptom is pain in the buttocks, hips and lower back.
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Peripheral spondyloarthritis: Affects the arms and legs
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Reactive arthritis: Also known as Reiter's syndrome, reactive arthritis is inflammatory arthritis that commonly affects the joints of the knees or ankles along with the heels, toes, fingers, lower back, etc.
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Enteropathic arthritis: Enteropathic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that is linked with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
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Gout: Gout is a very common form of arthritis that affects the joints at the base of the big toe. The most common symptom is sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness, tenderness and swelling of the joints.
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Sarcoidosis: Sarcoidosis is the growth of granulomas (collections of inflammatory cells) in the lungs and lymph nodes. Sometimes it can also affect the skin, eyes, heart and other organs.
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Systemic sclerosis: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease. It affects the heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, and skin due to widespread fibrosis and vascular abnormalities. Based on its distribution on the skin, systemic sclerosis is divided into:
- Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis
- Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that involves the brain, skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. Some common symptoms include chest pain, fever, fatigue, uneasiness, hair loss, weight loss, etc.
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Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels can present as fever, skin rashes, absent pulses and compromised blood circulation to the kidneys and lungs.
Facilities & Services
Conditions evaluated and managed by the department of rheumatology at Manipal Hospitals are Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Seronegative arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, Crystal arthritis such as Gout, Soft tissue Rheumatism such as tennis elbow, plantar fascitis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, Scleroderma, Myositis, Vasculitis, ANCA vasculitis, cutaneous vasculitis, Undifferentiated connective tissue disease, Arthritis associated with systemic diseases, Ophthalmological condition such as uveitis and scleritis Various OPD procedures such as; intra-articular and soft tissue injections, minor salivary gland biopsy, Schirmer’s test and Nail-fold capillaroscopy are also offered here.
FAQ's
Rheumatology represents a subspecialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, which is devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are a diverse group of diseases that commonly affect the joints, but can also affect the muscles, other tissues, and internal organs. There are more than 200 different RMDs, affecting both children and adults.
Yes. If reported early, arthritis can be controlled and cured. However, other autoimmune diseases can only be controlled but cannot be cured. Manipal hospital has the best arthritis doctors in Dwarka, Delhi who use the latest techniques and technology to improve care for people with arthritis. Consult the best arthritis doctor at the best rheumatology hospital in Delhi.
A rheumatologist is a physician, who has received further training in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions. Apart from common arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout, Rheumatologists at the finest rheumatology hospital in Delhi are involved in treating complicated multisystem diseases like Vasculitis / SLE, etc.
Medicines for arthritis should be taken for a couple of years but in some cases, they could be taken lifelong. Get the best treatment at the rheumatology hospital in Delhi.
People with Prolonged/ recurrent joint pain and/or swelling or Pain in the soft tissue region or Back/ neck pain or Persistent Dry eyes and/or mouth or Prolonged unexplained fever or Unexplained skin rash or Ophthalmology conditions such as Uveitis and scleritis where the infection is ruled out
Yes. With aggressive and appropriate treatments, disfigurement and deformities can be prevented provided the patient reports early. Arrive at the top rheumatology hospital in Delhi to know more about it.
Yes, but in rheumatology, we only use minimal doses which should not be confused with cancer treatment doses.
Steroids are a double-edged weapon. However, if used judiciously then they are the backbone of the treatment of many autoimmune disorders. Initially, there is no alternative but once the disease is under controlled we can switch over the other steroid-sparing drugs.
Yes, but we will have to modify the drugs at least 3 months before the planning of conception. To know more, arrive at the leading rheumatology hospital in Delhi.
It is better to avoid pain killers unless prescribed by the rheumatologist. You should never combine 2 types of painkillers.
Having an autoimmune condition like rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis or lupus can affect your whole life. Manipal Hospitals is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized care and building long-term partnerships with its patients. Contact us to know more about rheumatic conditions and book an appointment with one of our Rheumatologists today.
