Arthritis Treatment

No matter whom you are or how old, arthritis can strike you at any time. Arthritis is a complex condition that causes painful inflammation of the joints. It affects a lot of people – one out of three suffers joint pains due to arthritis.

There are actually several types, the most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis causes the joints to become stiff and swollen, which, when moved, results in pain. In extreme cases, it becomes too painful to move that the person’s mobility is compromised, leading to further disability.

Treating Arthritis

Many studies have been made concerning arthritis treatment. However, there are many misconceptions about this disease, one of them being that arthritis is just something that “you have to learn to live with.” And because of that, many sufferers never seek appropriate arthritis treatment and medical care.

While arthritis can be an extremely debilitating disease, correct arthritis treatment can help ease the pain and prevent further damage. There is, however, no cure for arthritis yet, in the way that there is no cure for diabetes or hypertension. But there are still several effective arthritis treatments available that you can take.

Here are some of them:

NSAIDs

NSAIDs are Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, medications used as arthritis treatment, particularly in providing pain relief for the patient. Among the drugs within this group are naproxen, ibuprofen, piroxicam, diclofenac, ketoprofen, and indomethacin.

These drugs are often among the first arthritis treatments that doctors prescribe to patients since their main function is to reduce pain. It does not however treat the problem itself. There have been reports about side-effects, such as irritation of the stomach lining, ulcers, and indigestion, so it is advised that you take NSAID with anti ulcer tablets.

Over-the-Counter Drugs

A common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is often manageable with such arthritis treatments as over-the-counter drugs. The drugs include simple analgesics, combination analgesics, topical anti inflammatories, rubefacients, and glucosamine. This kind of arthritis treatment is taken orally and in moderation in order to avoid any unpleasant side effects. As for topical anti inflammatories, this arthritis treatment is absorbed by the body through the skin and enters the blood stream, so it is recommended you take the same precautions.

Topical Herbal Remedies

A traditional way of administering arthritis treatment is through herbal remedies. These traditional remedies are often applied topically, usually rubbed into the skin so they are absorbed into the blood stream. Some of these arthritis treatment remedies have skin-warming ingredients while others act more like anesthetics or pain killers.

One good example of an herb that can be used in arthritis treatment is capsaicin. This is a pungent chemical found in red peppers and is available commercially in cream form. The chemical acts particularly on pain and inflammation nerves, thus, helping ease the pain.

Nettle can also be a good substitute for capsaicin as an arthritis treatment. Usually, the leaves of the plant are extracted and turned into a rubbing solution to help relive the pain of arthritis. While it is not know how nettles work, it is believed that the plant contains certain active ingredients that could affect the pain perception and transmission at the nerve endings.