PHYSICIAN VOICES
4 Myths About Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
-
Understanding Rheumatoid ArthritisOver my 30-year career as a rheumatologist, there are common myths I encounter about rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment on a daily basis. I try to educate my patients about their disease, their treatment options and I give them clear expectations of the impact it may have on their lives. There’s still a lot we don’t know about RA, but by setting the record straight about what we do know, I can help my patients to feel empowered about their disease and the course of treatment.
-
Myth No. 1: You can treat RA with alternative strategies alone.The most common myth I hear from my patients is that you can find alternative medicinal therapies to treat RA, and you don’t need mainstream pharmacological therapies. However, there’s a lot of potential danger in thinking that way. There’s been no proof that alternative strategies work, and they may cause more harm than good. Patients need to be treated with proven pharmacological treatments or else they risk great damage to their joints.
-
-
Myth No. 2: RA is predictable, so treatment is predictable.Once I’ve reached a diagnosis, I’ll educate my patients about what may happen as a result of their treatment. However, the only predictable thing about immune-based diseases like RA is that they’re unpredictable. Based on how a patient responds to the treatment strategies, I might change my mind about the diagnosis or reverse direction as things change. RA manifests differently in everyone, and the truth is we don’t know why it chooses one joint over another, or why it may come and go in some patients but stay consistent for others. It’s important that my patients trust that I’m keeping a close eye on their symptoms, and be aware that I may change strategies as we learn more about the disease.
-
Myth No. 3: RA medications cause too many side effects to be worthwhile.What I want my patients to understand is that the benefits of RA medications greatly outweigh the risks. I know that hearing a long list of potential side effects can be frightening, but the consequences of not treating the disease are worse. In fact, many of my patients have no problems with side effects. If you’re experiencing side effects that make the medication intolerable, work with your doctor to find another solution–don’t just stop taking the drug. We will find something that effectively controls your disease.
-
Myth No. 4: You can partner with the Internet to make the right treatment decisions.I encourage my patients to research their disease, but they need to also recognize the shortcomings of the Internet. I think sometimes patients forget that their physicians have taken an oath, and that they treat patients like you for a living. Your physician’s experience and knowledge cannot be trumped by the Internet. If you feel that your doctor doesn’t have your best interests in mind, it’s important to find another one whom you trust. This disease requires a partnership and a strong relationship between the patient and the physician.
4 Myths About Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment