Will rheumatoid arthritis heal on its own?
Disease description:
Recently, my finger joints have been constantly painful and swollen, and they feel very stiff when I wake up in the morning. After visiting the hospital, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I'm very worried because this condition is so tormenting. Can rheumatoid arthritis heal on its own?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Rheumatoid arthritis generally does not resolve spontaneously. There are several reasons for this:
1. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease. Pathologically, it is primarily associated with synovitis and the formation of pannus. As the disease progresses, these pathological changes can ultimately lead to destruction of cartilage and joint bones, resulting in joint deformities, and in severe cases, even disability.
2. Treating rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term process. Some patients may notice fluctuations in their condition during the early stages of the disease, but this is absolutely not a sign of spontaneous healing. Without timely treatment, the condition will inevitably worsen progressively, and the likelihood of joint deformities and functional impairments will significantly increase. Therefore, active treatment is very important.
3. The majority of patients who receive standard and systematic internal medicine drug treatments can achieve clinical remission or maintain low disease activity, thereby returning to normal daily life and work.
Although rheumatoid arthritis cannot resolve on its own, with proper and systematic internal medicine treatment, patients can return to normal life and work.
