As with any treatment regimen, the goals of surgery for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are to reduce pain, protect the affected joints, and improve the patient’s ability to function in everyday life. Although there are many surgical options for treating rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to remember that surgery is not appropriate for everyone.
Surgery for osteoarthritis (“aging” arthritis) is more common than for rheumatoid arthritis, because osteoarthritis will typically affect only one or a few joints, whereas rheumatoid arthritis will often affect multiple joints, especially the small joints in the hands and wrists.
Surgery for rheumatoid arthritis may be appropriate if both doctor and patient agree that surgery is the right course of action after repeated physical evaluation and careful consideration of the risks, benefits, and costs.
