Question

The home health nurse is visiting a client with an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis. To prevent deformities of the knee joints, the nurse should:

Tell the client to walk without bending the knees.
Encourage movement within the limits of pain.
Instruct the client to sit only in a recliner.
Tell the client to remain in bed as long as the joints are painful.

Answer 1

To prevent knee joint deformities, the nurse should encourage movement within the client's pain limits and recommend low-impact activities. Rest, joint splints, exercise, medications, and possibly surgery are parts of comprehensive RA management.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent deformities of the knee joints in a client with an exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the home health nurse should encourage movement within the limits of pain. It is important for RA patients to maintain joint mobility and muscle strength to ensure proper joint alignment and reduce stress on the joints. High-impact exercises should be avoided, and instead, the nurse can recommend low-impact activities like swimming, biking, and yoga to support joint health while minimizing additional joint stress.

Rest may be necessary during acute inflammation, but prolonged immobility can result in joint stiffness and muscle weakness. Using joint splints can help minimize inflammation during rest periods. Once inflammation decreases, exercise can help strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints and maintain flexibility. Moderate physical activity as tolerated, adjusted to the individual's pain threshold, is key.

For more extensive joint damage, a rheumatologist may prescribe medications to relieve pain and decrease inflammation such as anti-inflammatory drugs, topical pain relievers, or corticosteroid injections. In severe cases, surgery may be considered by the healthcare professional.