Breaking down the pain and remedies of Arthritis

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition with symptoms of swelling, stiffness, tenderness, redness and warmth around joints.  The three most common types of Arthritis are Gout, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

What is the cause of Arthritis?

Although the exact cause is unknown, factors such as age, obesity, heredity and work conditions contribute to the disease.

What is the remedy for Arthritis?

Medication: Arthritis pain relievers are widely available. There are typical and oral types of medications:

• Typical medications are limited in that they can only be used for less severe forms of the disease such as one found in the hand.
• The oral medication is narcotic, which is meant to relieve the inflammation in the joints caused by the disease. Sufferers of Arthritis often combine a narcotic with some over-the-counter pain killer. These pain killers are anti-inflammatory, also known as NSAIDS, which are widely available.

Meet your Doctor and determine the best option suitable for your needs.

Certain medicines are available in medical stores on Doctor’s prescription.

• DMARD (Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs) used for rheumatoid, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic forms of the disease. Although DMARDs can have serious side effects, they can cut these forms of arthritis short in their progress.

• Corticosteroids are just another form of anti-inflammatory drugs meant to relieve inflammation. The patients are usually injected directly into the joint to minimize side effects to the rest of the body. For certain forms of the disease, there is the new option of biologic therapy, which is used to alter the immune system through intravenous drugs.

There are other options for relief, if sufferers do not want to use medication. Sufferers can protect the joints by wearing special devices.

• Hot or cold compress.
• Special exercises to increase the joints’ strength and flexibility.
• Surgery:  This is the last and may be expensive and will require recovery time.

Sufferers of this condition can find relief from not just medication but other helpful aids.  Patients can find joint wraps in medical stores, which will provide heat to the joint and relieve suffering. Seeing a physical therapist can help strengthen the joints which arthritis pain reliever does not do.  It’s best to avoid pushing and pulling excessively. Exercising as well as maintaining a healthy weight are important to reducing the risk. Eating healthy and protecting the joints can also be effective ways to prevent the disease.