Arthritis is a condition that is characterized by inflammation of joint structures including cartilage, synovial membranes and articular surfaces. There are a number of arthritis pain relief modalities that patients can consider. The choice of treatment modality will be determined by a number of factors. These include the severity of illness, the duration for which one has been sick and presence of other diseases. The treatments may be used singly or in combination.
Symptoms that are of an acute nature have been shown to have a better response to medication as compared to those that are of a chronic nature. The reason for this is thought to be the large extent of damage to joint cartilage that is seen with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some patients with chronic pain require treatment for a lifetime. These patients only benefit from temporary symptom relief.
To determine your treatment plan, your doctor will start by taking a detailed history of your condition. This history will focus on a number of things including the duration, symptomatic pattern, and possible cause. He will then do a physical to determine the extent of injury. Laboratory and radiological investigations are at times needed to help in characterizing the pathology.
There is no single treatment regarded as definitive cure for the condition. The common practice is to use a combination of modalities so as to provide long term relief. When on prolonged treatment, there is a need to review your options occasionally due to diminishing effectiveness. Changing of medications should be done cautiously to avoid serious side effects.
The general advice is that one should start with simple treatments and graduate slowly to the more complex ones. Non-prescription drugs such as aspirin, naproxen, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are effective for mild pain. In the event that these do not provide relief, the next best step is to seek advice from a general physician, a rheumatologist or an orthopaedic surgeon. Stronger drugs such as opioids should only be used with a perception.
There are a number of treatments that can be considered as alternatives to pharmacological agents. Physical exercise is perhaps the easiest of these alternatives. The exercises should have routines that include stretching, brisk walking and jogging. It is recommended that one exercises about 30 minutes 3 to 4 days a week. One should avoid long hours of sitting since this increases the chance of having pain.
Heat and cold therapies are another commonly used option. These are either used by themselves or in combination with other forms of therapy. Heat therapy is achieved through the use of hot baths or electric heating pads. Treatment occurs through enhancement of circulation around affected joints. Cold therapies, on the other hand, involve the use of ice packs, cold packs and cold compressions. The cold temperature works by inhibiting nerve impulse transmission.
Effective arthritis pain relief requires a multidisciplinary approach. Nurses, general physicians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and rheumatologists all have a role to play. The patient needs to offer their utmost cooperation if the plan is to succeed. If all the conservative methods prove ineffective, surgery may be considered.
Symptoms that are of an acute nature have been shown to have a better response to medication as compared to those that are of a chronic nature. The reason for this is thought to be the large extent of damage to joint cartilage that is seen with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some patients with chronic pain require treatment for a lifetime. These patients only benefit from temporary symptom relief.
To determine your treatment plan, your doctor will start by taking a detailed history of your condition. This history will focus on a number of things including the duration, symptomatic pattern, and possible cause. He will then do a physical to determine the extent of injury. Laboratory and radiological investigations are at times needed to help in characterizing the pathology.
There is no single treatment regarded as definitive cure for the condition. The common practice is to use a combination of modalities so as to provide long term relief. When on prolonged treatment, there is a need to review your options occasionally due to diminishing effectiveness. Changing of medications should be done cautiously to avoid serious side effects.
The general advice is that one should start with simple treatments and graduate slowly to the more complex ones. Non-prescription drugs such as aspirin, naproxen, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are effective for mild pain. In the event that these do not provide relief, the next best step is to seek advice from a general physician, a rheumatologist or an orthopaedic surgeon. Stronger drugs such as opioids should only be used with a perception.
There are a number of treatments that can be considered as alternatives to pharmacological agents. Physical exercise is perhaps the easiest of these alternatives. The exercises should have routines that include stretching, brisk walking and jogging. It is recommended that one exercises about 30 minutes 3 to 4 days a week. One should avoid long hours of sitting since this increases the chance of having pain.
Heat and cold therapies are another commonly used option. These are either used by themselves or in combination with other forms of therapy. Heat therapy is achieved through the use of hot baths or electric heating pads. Treatment occurs through enhancement of circulation around affected joints. Cold therapies, on the other hand, involve the use of ice packs, cold packs and cold compressions. The cold temperature works by inhibiting nerve impulse transmission.
Effective arthritis pain relief requires a multidisciplinary approach. Nurses, general physicians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and rheumatologists all have a role to play. The patient needs to offer their utmost cooperation if the plan is to succeed. If all the conservative methods prove ineffective, surgery may be considered.
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