Treatments for Arthritis
How is arthritis commonly treated?
Although currently there is no known cure for arthritis, most people with arthritis
can continue to perform normal activities of daily living.
Specific treatment will be determined by your physician(s) based on:
- your age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of the disease
- your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the disease
- your opinion or preference
The goal of arthritis treatment is to relieve pain and to increase motion in the
affected area(s). 
Treatment may include:
- analgesics - pain relievers
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- corticosteroids
- cortisone injections
- rest and exercise
Persons with arthritis often need to have a balance between rest and activity. Since
fatigue and pain are signs of arthritis, it is important to rest the joints and muscles.
Physical exercise can reduce joint pain and stiffness and increase muscle strength and
flexibility. Consult your physician before beginning an exercise program.
- diet
Extra weight can increase pressure on some joints and aggravate some types of arthritis. A
well-balanced diet is an important part of the treatment plan for arthritis.
- assistive devices
Protecting the joints from stress while performing daily activities may help to
relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Such protection may include:
- splints and braces - used to support the joints or allow them to rest
- cane - used for walking; may reduce weight on the knee or hip affected by the arthritis
- shoe insert - may help to ease walking pain caused by arthritis of the foot or knee
- heat and cold therapies
Heat and cold therapies may be used to reduce pain and inflammation associated
with arthritis. Your physician will select the form of treatment that will work best for
your type of arthritis.
- Heat therapy may involve paraffin wax, ultrasound, or moist heat. Applying heat
increases the blood flow and increases flexibility of the affected area.
- Cold therapy may involve cold packs, cold water soaks, and over-the-counter sprays and
ointments that cool the joints. Cold therapy numbs the nerves around the joint and helps
to relieve inflammation.
- surgery
Surgery may be considered for the treatment of arthritis. Surgical procedures may
include:
- repair or removal of a diseased or damaged joint
- bone fusion - surgery in which bones in the joint are fused together
- arthroplasty - total joint replacements with an artificial one
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