These medicines do not change the course of the disease or prevent joint destruction.

Once the process is recognized, immobilization with a total contact cast will help ward off further joint destruction.

Strong medication can help prevent joint destruction and painful symptoms.

In people with severe arthritis, treatment can still relieve pain and prevent joint destruction, especially if it is started early.

This procedure may not be appropriate if joint destruction is severe.

In some cases, oral medications are all that patients need to keep symptoms and joint destruction under control.

These drugs not only treat arthritis symptoms, but they also can slow down progressive joint destruction.

However, joint destruction may take place before the infection is controlled.

The treatment reduced swelling and joint destruction in the mice.

They also need drugs (some of the same ones used in chemotherapy for cancer patients, albeit at lower doses) that prevent joint destruction.