Conditions We Treat
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
At Healix, we understand the daily difficulties of living with an Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) diagnosis. That’s why we’re committed to making your rheumatoid arthritis infusions as hassle-free as possible with expertly trained medical staff and a relaxed, home-like environment.
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack the lining of your joints. This leads to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling, especially in the hands, wrists, and knees.
Over time, RA can damage cartilage and bone, making joints harder to move and sometimes leading to long-term disability. Unlike osteoarthritis, which happens from wear and tear, RA is caused by your immune system mistakenly targeting healthy tissue.
RA Diagnosis
Since RA symptoms can look like other joint conditions, a clear diagnosis often takes several steps. These may include:
- Blood tests to check for rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, and signs of inflammation
- X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs to look for joint damage
- Physical exams to check for swelling, stiffness, and joint function
- Reviewing your medical and family history to identify risk factors
RA Treatment
Treatment for RA focuses on reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and slowing joint damage. Most people start with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, to ease symptoms. Doctors may also prescribe corticosteroids to quickly reduce swelling or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, to slow the disease.
Biologic medications, a more targeted type of DMARD, can be beneficial when standard drugs don’t work well. Infusion therapies, which include certain biologics, are given through an IV and help control RA by blocking specific parts of the immune system that cause joint damage.
Which Infusions Are for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Infusion therapy can help treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, especially when oral or injectable medications don’t provide enough relief. Here are some infusion medications commonly prescribed for RA:
- Remicade® (infliximab)
- Inflectra® (infliximab-dyyb)
- Actemra® (tocilizumab)
- Orencia® (abatacept)
- Rituximab & biosimilars
- Simponi Aria® (golimumab)
Infusion medications are usually administered regularly, depending on your treatment plan.
How Does the Rheumatoid Arthritis Infusion Process Work?
If your doctor decides that infusion therapy is right for you, you'll receive treatment through an IV at an outpatient infusion center like Healix. Here’s how infusions for rheumatoid arthritis usually work:
- The staff reviews your medical history, current medications, and any recent lab work.
- You check in, and a nurse checks your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
- A nurse places a small needle into a vein in your arm or hand to start the IV line.
- The IV slowly delivers the medication over a set period, usually taking anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the drug.
- Nurses stay with you to watch for side effects and make sure you're responding well.
- You’ll stay for a short observation period after the infusion, and then the nurse will remove the IV and clear you to go home.
Each visit follows a set schedule and dosage based on the medication you’re receiving. Your care team adjusts the timing and frequency depending on how your body responds.
Why Choose Healix for Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Infusion Therapy
At Healix Infusion Care, you get the focused attention of our specialized team without the delays and stress that often come with hospitals. We use the same high-quality therapies for the same conditions, but in a comfortable outpatient clinic designed just for infusion treatments.
With flexible scheduling, short wait times, and staff who know your name, we make your rheumatoid arthritis infusions easier, safer, and more personal. Get started with Healix today.
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