Rheumatoid Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms, and Natural Treatment Options

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints. Arthritis is the umbrella term for inflammation in the joints, and it affects more than 53 million Americans, with over a million of that group having rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis can often go unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages, where the impact can be devastating to the patient’s health and finances.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often begin subtly, with joint pain and stiffness being the most common indicators. Many people notice discomfort, particularly in the morning or after long periods of inactivity. Fatigue, swelling, and even fever can accompany joint issues as the disease progresses, affecting the person’s overall quality of life.

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown, although genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in the development of the condition. Age, obesity, and underlying health conditions can further increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. 

Chiropractic care, an important aspect of functional medicine, offers a holistic and non-invasive approach to managing rheumatoid arthritis. Chiropractic care is natural and relies on using the body’s own system to treat the condition unlike conventional treatments, which often rely heavily on medications with potentially serious side effects. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and joint mobilization techniques to reduce symptoms and promote long-term relief.

This article will consider the relationship between functional medicine and rheumatoid arthritis, including its benefits and the steps involved in achieving the best treatment possible. We will also consider rheumatoid arthritis in itself, examining its symptoms and causes.

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, chronic autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in the linings of the joint. Autoimmune conditions are conditions in which the body’s immune system mistakes healthy body cells as foreign and attacks them. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect both sides of the body, unlike other types of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis initially affects the small joints in the body before progressing to the larger joints. Some of the most typical joints that the condition initially affects are the hands, feet, and wrists. Rheumatoid arthritis may cause problems in other parts of the body, like the heart, lungs, skin, eyes, blood, and mouth as it progresses.

What are the Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis (or any other autoimmune condition, at that) is unknown. However, what we do know is that there is a relationship between the development of the condition and a gene-environment interplay.

The belief is that there are gene variants and parts of the gene that can predispose an individual to getting the condition. These genes can be passed down across generations, meaning your chances of having the condition increase if you have family members who have it. Also, there is the aspect of the environment, where exposure to toxic agents like cigarette smoke, dust, bacteria, and viruses can contribute to the development of the condition.

Other risk factors for the condition include obesity, age (the risk increases with age), underlying health conditions, and sex (more common in women).

What are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis? 

Joint pain, tenderness, and stiffness are the most typical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. There may be other more generalized symptoms like fever and fatigue depending on the severity of rheumatoid arthritis in the person. 

Here is a list of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. 

• Joint pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness
• Joint stiffness, especially after sitting for extended periods or early in the morning
• Fatigue
• Fever

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease, which means the condition worsens with time, eventually causing disability and even death if untreated. Therefore, the initial experience of the symptoms is mild, both in severity and extent.

Natural Treatment Options to Rheumatoid Arthritis

According to research by the Institute for Functional Medicine in Federal Way, WA, USA, functional medicine is a “systems-biology-based model that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to achieve the highest expression of health by addressing the underlying causes of disease.” Functional medicine is patient-centered, science-backed, and root-cause-focused. The aim of functional medicine is to treat the whole body system and achieve holistic healing of any condition.

What are the Benefits of Functional Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The benefits of functional medicine for rheumatoid arthritis include a low risk of adverse effects and proven efficacy in relieving the symptoms of the condition and ensuring long-term healing. These safety and efficacy benefits pose an advantage over medication use, considering that rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition. 

The safety and efficacy benefits of functional medicine in managing rheumatoid arthritis are explained below. 

Safety

Functional medicine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is safe in that the risk of the many side effects associated with the medications is removed. The risk of these side effects may not mean too much if medications are used occasionally, but it is a different story when you consider that rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong condition. In other words, these health risks can begin to accumulate with long-term use of these medications, causing other problems. 

For example, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac) can cause gastrointestinal issues. Steroids and immunosuppressant medications can increase the risk of infection, among many other adverse effects. Even the seemingly ordinary paracetamol can cause kidney, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal problems in long-term use. 

Interestingly, patients often have concerns about their arthritis medications, and these concerns can further increase their risk of developing side effects, especially when they are just starting on new medications. Let’s break that down. 

All drugs have the potential for adverse effects, including rheumatoid arthritis medications. However, there are other non-specific side effects (side effects that cannot be explained by the pharmacology of the drug) that may occur due to the patient’s concerns about their medications. 

Efficacy

Non-drug approaches, like functional medicine, are efficacious and valuable in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Functional medicine is heavily patient-centered, which is important, as it implies that functional medicine recognizes the differences that exist between us all before aiming to treat us. 

There are differences in the way our different bodies interact with their different parts and the environment. These are individual differences that conventional medicine may not adequately capture. However, by shining the spotlight on these unique differences, functional medicine delivers the personalized care that factors in the best treatment for the individual. Moreover, patients who have used functional medicine in the management of their condition often report better treatment outcomes. 

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis by functional medicine practitioners typically starts with the collection of the patient’s medical history. The functional health practitioner may then perform a physical examination, followed by laboratory or imaging tests if there is still no clear diagnosis.

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis is the first step to the functional medicine management of rheumatoid arthritis. We have outlined below some of the diagnostic tools that health practitioners use to reach an accurate diagnosis of the condition.

Patient History

Rheumatoid arthritis is heavily affected by the interaction between genetics and environmental factors. Functional health practitioners may ask questions about the patient’s family history as it relates to rheumatoid arthritis. This patient history collection step aims to consider the genetic aspect of the condition Essentially, if you have a family member with the condition, your chances of having it are higher, as well. 

Other relevant questions like your symptoms, how they started, when they started, and how they affect your daily activities can also provide valuable insight into the condition. Your functional health practitioner may also ask you about the medications you take, underlying medical conditions, and your lifestyle.

Physical Examination

Physical examination involves a functional health practitioner manually checking out the patient to assess the state and extent of rheumatoid arthritis. The health practitioner usually examines the joints, checking for their function and looking out for any obvious structural damage. 

Your examiner may also ask you to perform certain activities and they may look out for rash and inflammation on your skin. Some professionals use the avenue of a physical examination to collect more information about the patient’s health and condition. 

Laboratory Tests

Laboratory tests on the blood, urine, or other body fluids or substances can help detect and measure chemical components that help in diagnosing a condition. Your medical history and the health practitioner’s physical examination can only tell so much. More specific and accurate diagnosis often requires functional health practitioners to turn to laboratory testing. 

These tests usually measure different parameters, which do not necessarily have to be specific to rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, the tests can measure rheumatoid factor, a protein that many people with rheumatoid arthritis have. A test for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) can also specifically help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. 

Complete blood count, sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein tests can help tell the presence of inflammation in the body. Analyzing the results in conjunction with other test results can help health practitioners reach a valuable diagnosis. 

Imaging

Imaging tests provide information on the inner structures of the body that physical examination and laboratory tests cannot provide. Health practitioners often recommend imaging tests if there is still no clear diagnosis after examining the patient and ordering laboratory tests. 

Sometimes, though, the diagnosis may be clear but the functional health practitioner requires imaging to know the extent of damage to the joint. Some of the tests used here are X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, computed tomography (CT) scans, and ultrasounds. 

Treatment 

The primary treatment goal of rheumatoid arthritis is to maximize the long-term health-related quality of life of patients through the control of symptoms, prevention of structural damage, normalization of function, and participation in social and work-related activities. This treatment goal remains the same regardless of the treatment option. 

Healthcare providers achieve this treatment goal by setting different treatment targets. The first of these targets is clinical remission of the condition. Clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis patients is the absence of the signs and symptoms of significant inflammatory disease activity. 

The next stage after clinical remission is maintaining the remission for extended periods. Following the induction and maintenance of clinical remission, the next stages include ensuring that disease activity is low, further damage stops, the patient’s joints start to improve physically, and the overall quality of the patient’s life is good. 

The beauty of functional medicine is that there are different routes to achieving holistic healing, and this applies to rheumatoid arthritis treatment, too. Here are some of the best functional health strategies for hitting treatment targets of rheumatoid arthritis.  

Chiropractic Care for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Chiropractic is a branch of functional medicine that is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, as well as the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the nervous system and the rest of the body. 

So, chiropractors can rebalance the spine and also directly adjust the affected joint to allow the body to heal itself in a holistic manner through different techniques. The chiropractic treatment model translates well when used to manage rheumatoid arthritis. The two broad techniques used for the chiropractic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are mobilization and manipulation. 

Chiropractors position the joint at the end of its range of motion and then apply gentle, repetitive movements to the joints in mobilization techniques. In contrast, manipulation techniques involve the use of high-velocity, low-amplitude (quick, short) thrusts to the spine. 

There are different variations of manipulation techniques, like Diversified, the Gonstead Technique, the Thompson Technique, and instrument adjusting tools. These different techniques are both safe and effective in treating different joints of the body. Although manipulation techniques are the most common chiropractic techniques, their direct use on the joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis may not be as straightforward due to the presence of inflammation. 

Therefore, the choice of technique remains up to the chiropractor, depending on the health needs. The chiropractor must then be skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable about different adjustments and the condition at hand for effective treatment. If you want this quality of chiropractors, do not hesitate to reach out to us at The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic. 

Nutritional Therapy

Nutritional therapy involves making changes to diet to achieve specific treatment goals. By definition, arthritis is joint inflammation and this inflammation is responsible for many of the symptoms the patient experiences. Therefore, one of the critical principles in the management of rheumatoid arthritis is the reduction of inflammation. Functional medicine practitioners achieve this by relying heavily on nutritional therapy.

The principle behind nutritional therapy is that there are foods that can cause and promote inflammation in the body and there are also foods and supplements that can prevent inflammation. So, nutritional therapy aims at adding these anti-inflammatory foods and supplements, while removing the pro-inflammatory ones. Simple, yet effective.

Examples of pro-inflammatory foods are refined grains, sugary drinks, processed meat, sweets, red meat, and other ultra-processed foods. Conversely, examples of anti-inflammatory foods are green leafy vegetables, fruit (particularly berries and apples), nuts, avocados, and fatty fish. Similarly, supplements like curcumin, ginger, garlic, bromelain, green tea, vitamin D, vitamin C, and olive oil can help reduce inflammation.

Besides these anti-inflammatory foods and supplements, some supplements can serve as immunosuppressants. These supplements can help dampen excessive inflammatory responses and flare-ups in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Examples include quercetin, capsaicin, resveratrol, and andrographolide.

Lifestyle Changes

Your functional healthcare provider may recommend certain lifestyle changes to help in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Chief of these changes is to quit smoking and other activities that may expose the body to inflammatory toxins. Additionally, health practitioners may recommend certain exercise and physical activities to reduce the risk of health complications, as well as improve joint function and mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, and it is a chronic, lifelong condition. However, there are treatment options, including functional medicine, that can help in relieving symptoms, reducing the risk of joint damage, and ensuring that the condition does not greatly affect the quality of life of the affected individual. 

Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Go Away on Its Own?

No, rheumatoid arthritis will not go away on its own, as it is a progressive condition, meaning it will get worse with time if left untreated. The right treatment option can help relieve symptoms and improve joint function despite the condition being incurable and even unpreventable. So, if you notice symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider. 

Do You Need Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

No, you do not need surgery for rheumatoid arthritis unless the affected joint(s) is severely damaged or other conservative treatment options have failed to yield positive results. The standard procedure if you do need surgery is joint replacement surgery, where the affected joints are replaced. Joint replacement surgery is common in the hands and feet, although the hip, knee, and shoulder joints can also be replaced. 

How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Different From Other Types of Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from other types of arthritis in that it is caused by an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks joint tissues. Also, rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple joints symmetrically and can cause systemic symptoms if not properly managed.

Can You Use Medications to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms?

Yes, you can use medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, but medications are only safe when used as a short-term therapy. For a chronic, lifelong condition like rheumatoid arthritis, a reliance on medications can pose several health challenges, depending on the side effects of the medication you are using. Note that all medications have side effects. 

Conclusion

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition that can significantly impact the quality of life if not managed effectively. There are different treatment options today, but functional medicine provides a holistic approach by addressing underlying causes, reducing inflammation, and promoting overall well-being. Key strategies include nutritional therapy, chiropractic care, and appropriate lifestyle changes. Although there’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, proactive management can greatly relieve symptoms and improve joint mobility function.

Consult with a functional healthcare provider to explore comprehensive treatment options tailored to your needs if you experience symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Contact The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic today for quality chiropractic and personalized healthcare services! Dr Tony Salameh and other experienced professionals at the clinic combine different options to help you find the best remedy to your problem. Reach out today at (850) 785-9372 or info@thebaydoctor.com. 

References

1. Chauhan K, Jandu JS, Brent LH, Al-Dhahir MA. Rheumatoid arthritis [Internet]. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. 2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441999/ 
2. Branch NSC and O. Rheumatoid arthritis [Internet]. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 2025. Available from: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis 
3. Ellis JA, Kemp AS, Ponsonby AL. Gene–environment interaction in autoimmune disease. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine [Internet]. 2014 Jan 1;16. Available from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/expert-reviews-in-molecular-medicine/article/abs/geneenvironment-interaction-in-autoimmune-disease/717AFCA586B23CE549B8B6342FED7F09 
4. Klareskog L, Rönnelid J, Saevarsdottir S, Padyukov L, Alfredsson L. The importance of differences; On environment and its interactions with genes and immunity in the causation of rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Internal Medicine [Internet]. 2020 Mar 16;287(5):514–33. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joim.13058 
5. Hanaway P. Form follows function: a functional medicine overview. The Permanente Journal [Internet]. 2016 Oct 14;20(4). Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5101104/ 
6. Gordon JS. Holistic Medicine: Advances and shortcomings [Internet]. 1982. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1273970/ 
7. Ghlichloo I, Gerriets V. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) [Internet]. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. 2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547742/ 
8. Ruiz R, Kirk AD. Long-Term toxicity of immunosuppressive therapy. In: Elsevier eBooks [Internet]. 2015. p. 1354–63. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978145570268800097X?via%3Dihub 
9. McCrae JC, Morrison EE, MacIntyre IM, Dear JW, Webb DJ. Long‐term adverse effects of paracetamol – a review. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology [Internet]. 2018 Jun 4;84(10):2218–30. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6138494/ 
10. Nestoriuc Y, Orav EJ, Liang MH, Horne R, Barsky AJ. Prediction of nonspecific side effects in rheumatoid arthritis patients by beliefs about medicines. Arthritis Care & Research [Internet]. 2010 Feb 26;62(6):791–9. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2940323/ 
11. Majnik J, Császár-Nagy N, Böcskei G, Bender T, Nagy G. Non-pharmacological treatment in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis. Frontiers in Medicine [Internet]. 2022 Aug 29;9. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9465607/ 
12. Droz N, Hanaway P, Hyman M, Jin Y, Beidelschies M, Husni ME. The impact of functional medicine on patient-reported outcomes in inflammatory arthritis: A retrospective study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2020 Oct 8;15(10):e0240416. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7544031/ 
13. Branch NSC and O. Rheumatoid arthritis [Internet]. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 2025. Available from: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/rheumatoid-arthritis/diagnosis-treatment-and-steps-to-take 
14. Smolen JS, Breedveld FC, Burmester GR, Bykerk V, Dougados M, Emery P, et al. Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: 2014 update of the recommendations of an international task force. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases [Internet]. 2015 May 13;75(1):3–15. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4717393/ 
15. Sun X, Li R, Cai Y, Al-Herz A, Lahiri M, Choudhury MR, et al. Clinical remission of rheumatoid arthritis in a multicenter real-world study in Asia-Pacific region. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific [Internet]. 2021 Aug 12;15:100240. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8365438/ 
16. Maltese PE, Michelini S, Baronio M, Bertelli M. Molecular foundations of chiropractic therapy. PubMed [Internet]. 2019 Sep 30;90(10-S):93–102. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7233649/ 
17. LeFebvre R, Peterson D, Haas M. Evidence-Based practice and chiropractic care. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine [Internet]. 2012 Sep 3;18(1):75–9. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3716373/ 
18. Chung CLR, Mior SA. Use of spinal manipulation in a rheumatoid patient presenting with acute thoracic pain: a case report [Internet]. 2015. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4486984/ 
19. Elder B, Tishkowski K. Osteopathic manipulative treatment: HVLA procedure – Cervical vertebrae [Internet]. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. 2022. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565847/ 
20. World Health Organization. WHO guidelines on basic training and safety in chiropractic [Internet]. 2005. Available from: https://iris.who.int/items/9d99ad10-d999-462c-883f-e4dd7676950e 
21. Tabung FK, Smith-Warner SA, Chavarro JE, Wu K, Fuchs CS, Hu FB, et al. Development and validation of an empirical dietary inflammatory index. Journal of Nutrition [Internet]. 2016 Jun 30;146(8):1560–70. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4958288/ 
22. Asensi MT, Napoletano A, Sofi F, Dinu M. Low-Grade Inflammation and Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption: A review. Nutrients [Internet]. 2023 Mar 22;15(6):1546. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10058108/ 
23. Scheiber A, Mank V. Anti-Inflammatory diets [Internet]. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. 2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK597377/ 
24. Zebeaman M, Tadesse MG, Bachheti RK, Bachheti A, Gebeyhu R, Chaubey KK. Plants and Plant‐Derived molecules as natural immunomodulators. BioMed Research International [Internet]. 2023 Jan 1;2023(1). Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10260316/ 
25. Cooney JK, Law RJ, Matschke V, Lemmey AB, Moore JP, Ahmad Y, et al. Benefits of exercise in rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Aging Research [Internet]. 2011 Jan 1;2011:1–14. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3042669/