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Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term autoimmune disease that causes painful joint inflammation, stiffness, and swelling. At Desert Pain Specialists in Rancho Mirage, California, Roland Reinhart, MD, and Meaghan Berglund, PA-C, provide advanced care to help patients manage symptoms and protect long-term joint health. Treatments such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroid injections, and regenerative therapies relieve pain, improve function, and preserve mobility. Contact Desert Pain Specialists today by phone or request an appointment online to learn more about effective rheumatoid arthritis management.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Q & A
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy joints. This leads to inflammation, pain, swelling, and stiffness that often occur in the hands, wrists, knees, and feet.
Over time, RA can cause joint damage and make everyday activities difficult. While there’s no cure as yet for rheumatoid arthritis, treatment can control symptoms and slow progression. With the right combination of therapies, many people manage their condition successfully and continue to live active, fulfilling lives.
What are the common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may include:
- Throbbing joint pain
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Stiffness (especially in the morning or after sitting still)
Some people feel tired, run low on energy, or experience mild fevers. RA can also affect more than just the joints and may impact the eyes, lungs, and blood vessels.
How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?
The Desert Pain Specialists team focuses on reducing pain, slowing disease progression, and helping patients maintain mobility. Treatment often combines medication with interventional therapies to provide relief and improve their quality of life.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are often the first line of treatment. These medications help slow down the immune system’s attack on your joints and prevent long-term damage. Corticosteroid injections also reduce inflammation and pain in targeted joints.
For patients who need additional relief, Desert Pain Specialists offers several advanced therapies, including:
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
PRP uses your body’s own growth factors to promote healing in inflamed joints.
Epidural steroid injections
Epidurals target inflammation near the spine to reduce nerve pain linked to RA.
Selective nerve root blocks
These local anesthetic injections help identify and relieve pain caused by irritated nerves.
Facet joint injections
Facet joint injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into the small joints of the spine to ease stiffness and discomfort.
Trigger point injections
These injections target tight muscle knots that contribute to pain.
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to interrupt pain signals from damaged joints or nerves.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
A spinal cord stimulator device sends mild electrical signals to the spinal cord. It can alleviate pain when other treatments are ineffective.
Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)
Similar to spinal cord stimulation, PNS provides gentle electrical pulses to specific nerves to reduce chronic pain. The difference is that PNS targets nerves outside the spine.
Call Desert Pain Specialists or book an appointment online today for first-class rheumatoid arthritis care.