Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis is a painful, sometimes debilitating disease that can affect the entire body. There are two main types of arthritis - rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These two types of arthritis combined affect more than 23 million Americans.

Pain in the joints is the main symptom of arthritis. If you have persistent pain in your joints, see a doctor for evaluation.

Osteoarthritis is the more common type of arthritis. The classic symptom of osteoarthritis is joint pain after repetitive use. Osteoarthritis pain is usually felt in the fingers, knees, hips or spine. Osteoarthritis is thought to be caused by physical stress - repetitive movements or wear and tear - that can lead to the breakdown of cartilage in the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation in the joints and can affect other body organs and tissues. There is no known cause of rheumatoid arthritis other than possibly family history of the disease.

Arthritis pain relief can be achieved many ways. For rheumatoid arthritis, pain medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can be used to reduce inflammation and reduce pain. Other pain relievers may also help. Corticosteroids are used to reduce the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. Medications that may slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis are also available. These drugs are known as DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs).

With osteoarthritis, losing weight if you are overweight is important to reduce the stress on affected joints. In addition, avoiding repetitive movements and activities that cause pain is recommended. On the other hand, some exercise is beneficial because it strengthens muscles that support joints.

There are some steps you can take to help prevent arthritis. Maintain a healthy weight, perform daily exercise that does not cause joint pain, use precautions when performing repetitive work and eat a healthy diet.

For more information about arthritis pain, arthritis treatment and arthritis medications, visit the arthritis foundation at http://www.arthritis.org or the WebMD arthritis center at http://arthritis.webmd.com/default.htm.

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