Drugs for rheumatoid arthritis -- or simply RA -- can slow down the disease. However, after joint damage has occurred, surgery may be a reasonable option. Advancements in surgical treatment are giving people with rheumatoid arthritis more chances to maintain function and keep moving.
Having surgery is never something to enter into lightly, but sometimes it can really help. When is the right time for surgery for rheumatoid arthritis, and what can you expect?
There are a couple of reasons to choose surgery for rheumatoid arthritis:
http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/rheumatoid-arthritis-surgery-decisions