SUPPLE IS A BETTER FIX FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Rheumatoid Arthritis:

More than 2 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation. It is an autoimmune disease, which means the body''s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. The disease is characterized by red, swollen, stiff, painful joints. As the disease progresses, loss of movement and function in the affected joints can occur.

Current treatment options include over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and other pain relievers; oral steroids; anti-rheumatic drugs, such as methotrexate; and biologic response modifiers, such as etanercept and infliximab, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

While many people experience relief by using one or a combination of these therapies, they don''t work for everyone. And, some of the medications work initially, and then stop working in certain people, said Dr. Martin Pevzner, chairman of rheumatology at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

SYMPTOMS:  RA can start in any joint, but it most commonly begins in the smaller joints of the fingers, hands and wrists. Joint involvement is usually symmetrical, meaning that if a joint hurts on the left hand, the same joint will hurt on the right hand. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include fatigue, stiffness, weakness, swelling, flu-like symptoms, pain, loss of appetite, depression and weight loss.

STANDARD TREATMENTS: There are many different medications available to treat RA. Some of those include:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - These drugs are used to reduce inflammation and relive pain. These are medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin and COX-2 inhibitors such as valdecoxib and celecoxib.
• Analgesic Drugs - These drugs relieve pain but don't necessarily have an effect on inflammation. Examples include acetaminophen, propoxyphene and morphine.
• Glucocorticoids or Prednisone - These are prescribed in low maintenance doses to slow joint damage caused by inflammation.
• Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) - These are used with NSAIDs and/or prednisone to slow joint destruction. Examples include methotrexate, injectable gold and penicillamine.
• Biologic Response Modifiers - These drugs directly modify the immune system by inhibiting proteins called cytokines, which contribute to inflammation. Examples are etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab and anakinra.
• Protein-A Immunoadsorption Therapy - This is not a drug, but a therapy that filters your blood to remove antibodies and immune complexes that promote inflammation.