Final answer:
Opioids are not typically used to directly address pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), instead being reserved for cases where other treatments have failed or aren't tolerated, due to their addictive potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), various options are available to relieve pain and inflammation. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, which help reduce pain and inflammation; corticosteroids, which are used to control severe arthritis by down-regulating the inflammatory response; and Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which not only reduce symptoms but also prevent joint and tissue damage and slow the progression of the disease.
The one medication from the given options that is typically not used to directly relieve pain and inflammation in the context of RA is opioids. Opioids are usually reserved for patients who cannot tolerate other medications or have not found relief with them, and due to the risk of addiction, their use is generally limited to short-term situations.a