Q Will my joints be ruined if I don't receive treatment?
A If left untreated, autoimmune polyarthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, can lead to actual damage to joint cartilage and bone, resulting in deformation. The first two years after onset are the period when joint damage progresses most rapidly. Since early treatment determines the long-term prognosis, it is important to receive professional medical care at the early stages of symptoms.
Detailed Answer
Synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis forms pannus, which directly erodes cartilage and bone. If left untreated, it leads to joint space narrowing, bone erosion, and ultimately joint stiffness and deformation. The group that started DMARDs treatment within 3 to 6 months of diagnosis showed significantly lower radiation damage markers after 5 years. The effectiveness of early intervention is clear.
Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic
In Korean medicine, it is believed that if Bi-jeung persists for a long time, stagnation of Qi and blood transforms into hardened blood stasis, which leads to joint deformation. When kidney energy weakens, the ability to support bones decreases, accelerating the rate of damage. At Dongjedang, we aim to create an environment for joint tissue regeneration by intervening early with moxibustion and pharmacopuncture before blood stasis and phlegm accumulate.
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