Medical Treatment for Arthritis
Now that we have defined what arthritis is, we can discuss what the medical field will offer you in one form or another. The doctors and rheumatologists have diagnosed the arthritis so it their duty to follow through with a medical plan.
You might be offered an anti-inflammatory in pill form. An anti-inflammatory or NSAID is usually very safe to take and does not interfere with any other medication you might be taking. It is used for arthritis pain, sports injuries and headaches. It will relieve the constant pain or ache if taken on schedule, daily and with food. The only side effects that I am familiar with are stomach problems, so take them with food to reduce the risk of an ulcer,
Names of NSAIDs that you might recognize are Naproxen, Celebrex and aspirin. In fact, ordinary baby aspirin of 81 mg is also recommended for heart patients to prevent blood clots. So in addition to relieving pain, aspirin is good for the heart in a small dose every day. An NSAID is fine to relieve the inflammation but the pain is a different matter.
Pain relievers that can be prescribed or sold over the counter are Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, and many others too many of which to include. These pain relievers in addition to the NSAIDs as above would be an adequate combination to help out with the pain and aches of arthritis.
If, however, your arthritis, or disc degeneration is so severe, and the pain unbearable, the doctor may give you a prescription for Tylenol #3 or #4, Oxycocet or Percocet which are very potent. Don't plan on working or driving or taking care of small children if you are taking these on a regular basis. I take mine at night to give me a deep sleep along with Naproxen to reduce the swelling. Also keep in mind that these are narcotics and they are very potent. Do not leave any pills or medication within reach of a baby or youngster, Opiates are also very habit- forming and can become a problem if you take them for a long period of time.
In addition to medication, the doctor may request that you have sports therapy which is a special athletic gym with equipment to reduce the weight bearing on your joints and give your muscles a work out. Physiotherapists are trained to put you on a routine of special equipment to take the pressure off of the joints and to reduce the inflammation. It is wonderful to take part in the facilities and to gain some strength and agility back.