Case Study Analysis: Exploring Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

This case study analyzes the case of Mrs. Martin, a patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis, exploring her journey with the disease and the effectiveness of various treatment approaches. The analysis delves into Mrs. Martin's engagement in self-care practices, the use of alternative therapies such as acupuncture and physical therapy, and the challenges she faced due to the disease. The study also examines the use of electronic databases to identify effective treatment regimens and scholarly literature supporting the benefits of acupuncture. Furthermore, it explores the challenges Mrs. Martin encountered, including lack of family support and the impact of steroidal drugs on her immune system. Finally, the study proposes strategies for healthcare professionals to assist the family in managing the disease, including health literacy, counseling, and referral to support foundations. References from various sources are included to support the analysis.

RUNNING HEAD: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Response 1:
On the basis of the information gathered from the case study, it can be said that Mrs.
Martin is engaging in self-care practices. After opting for the alternative therapy, Mrs. Martin
felt much better and was able to walk half a mile, drive her car and also do much of her
house-hold work. In addition to this, she was also able to participate in the social gatherings.
However, after the initial diagnosis she found it extremely difficult to move and was bed-
ridden. Therefore, on the basis of the improvement, it can be said that Mrs. Martin had been
able to successfully engage in self-care.
Response 2:
On investigating the Google search engine to evaluate the treatment remedies for the
cure of Rheumatoid Arthritis, a number of alternative therapies were found. The most
prevalent ones included the physical therapy and stringently following an exercise routine. In
addition to this, consumption of a number of dietary elements such as fish oil supplements, S-
adenosym-L-methionine (SAMe) was also found to have positive effects on patients suffering
from Rheumatoid Arthritis (EverydayHealth.com, 2019). Also, the use of acupuncture
technique has also been found to be effective in patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Response 3:
In order to investigate effective treatment regimen for the treatment of Rheumatoid
Arthritis, the electronic databases were scanned to retrieve scholarly literatures. Studies were
identified that typically backed the efficiency of the ancient acupuncture technique for the
treatment of the disorder. The use of the technique could be traced back to the ancient
Egyptian Practice where care professionals made use of thin needles and inserted at different
pressure points in the body to promote the smooth flow of energy (qi), throughout the body

2CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
(Chon & Lee, 2013). The findings of a number of studies indicated that the therapy could
substantially reduce stiffness, inflammation and relieve the patient of the pertinent pain
experience (Shetty et al., 2014; Kumar et al., 2016).
Response 4:
The case study suggests that Mrs. Martin experienced a number of challenges during
the initial phase of her disease condition. A number of characteristics could be held
accountable for her powerlessness. The lack of substantial moral support from her family
members and the incorrect treatment routine that she had been thriving on for years
contributed to her low self-esteem. In addition to this, the use of steroidal drugs for the
recovery process weakened her immune system and made her prone to weakness and fatigue.
Moreover, the persisting pain and lack of awareness about the disease made her emotionally
distressed and contributed to her powerlessness.
Response 5:
As a care professional a total of three strategies could be undertaken to help the
family manage the disease. The first would comprise of imparting health literacy about
Rheumatoid Arthritis to Mrs. Martin and her husband about the disease. The second strategy
would comprise of referring the couple to a psychotherapist who would make use of
counselling to assist the couple in overcoming the pertinent emotional distress that they had
been witnessing for years. The third strategy would comprise of referring the couple to
support foundations that assist patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and cover the multiple
needs of the patients to promote recovery.

3CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
References:
Chon, T. Y., & Lee, M. C. (2013, October). Acupuncture. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol.
88, No. 10, pp. 1141-1146). Elsevier.
EverydayHealth.com (2019). Alternative Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Which
Treatments Are Worth Trying?. [online] EverydayHealth.com. Available at:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/living-with/alternative-
therapies-rheumatoid-arthritis-worth-trying/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2019].
Kumar, L. D., Karthik, R., Gayathri, N., & Sivasudha, T. (2016). Advancement in
contemporary diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for rheumatoid
arthritis. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 79, 52-61.
Shetty, G. B., Mooventhan, A., & Anagha, N. (2015). Effect of electro-acupuncture, massage,
mud, and sauna therapies in patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Ayurveda
and integrative medicine, 6(4), 295.