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The Rheumatology Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center delivers advanced, evidence-based care to people with arthritis. Our program is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading clinical and research centers for rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis, which literally means inflammation of a joint (where two or more bones meet), actually refers to more than 100 different diseases and is one category of rheumatic disease. Rheumatic diseases typically cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and other supporting body structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
The most commonly diagnosed form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage that covers bones can be worn away. This can occur as a normal consequence of aging, as well as in areas of prior trauma. However, rheumatoid arthritis – in which the autoimmune system attacks the bones and joints – can affect anyone, at any age and of any race.
Rheumatic diseases can also affect other areas of the body, including internal organs. Some rheumatic diseases involve connective tissues, while others are caused by an autoimmune disorder, which means the body's immune system attacks its own healthy cells and tissues.
The following are the most common symptoms of arthritis:
Diagnosing arthritis is often difficult because many symptoms are similar among the different types of arthritis. Our Rheumatology Program is dedicated to providing the correct diagnosis and to prescribing therapies needed to slow or halt the progression of all types of arthritis.
To make an accurate diagnosis, our physicians might need to review the patient’s medical history, perform a physical examination, and obtain laboratory tests, X-rays, and other imaging tests.
When reviewing the medical history, the physician might ask the following questions:
Because there is no cure for arthritis, the goal of treatment is often to limit pain and inflammation while ensuring optimal joint function. AT UT Southwestern Medical Center, our physicians develop treatment plans that are tailored to the type of arthritis, as well as the severity of the condition.
Several types of medications can be used to reduce pain and symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and disease-modifying antirheumatic medications.
Examples of disease-modifying antirheumatic medications include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, penicillamine, and gold injections. Corticosteroids might also be used to treat rheumatic diseases.
Other treatment options
If your affected joint shows evidence of torn cartilage or loose fragments of bone or cartilage, surgery might be required. Our orthopaedic surgeons are highly trained and experienced in the latest minimally invasive arthroscopic and open-surgery research and techniques.
In the minimally invasive outpatient procedure, a small incision is made and a tiny camera is inserted into the surgical site to guide surgeons through the procedure. Small surgical instruments are then inserted through the incision to repair any tears or remove any loose fragments.
Even if a patient has had a previous surgery elsewhere for arthritis that was not as successful as hoped, our orthopaedic surgeons are highly skilled in revision surgery to fix the issue.
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