How is Arthritis Treated?

Although there is no cure for most forms of arthritis, various therapies can help patients manage symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis treatment plans often include ways to manage pain and improve function. Current treatments for osteoarthritis can relieve symptoms such as pain and disability, but right now there are no treatments that can cure osteoarthritis.

• Exercise - can decrease pain, increase flexibility and help you maintain a healthy weight. The amount and form of exercise will depend on which joints are involved, how stable the joints are, whether or not the joint is swollen and whether a joint replacement has already been done.
• Heat or ice - you can use warm towels, hot packs or a warm bath or shower. In some cases, cold packs such as a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel can relieve pain or numb the sore area. A doctor or physical therapist can recommend if heat or cold is the best treatment. For osteoarthritis in the knee, wearing insoles or cushioned shoes may reduce joint stress.
• Medications - doctors usually start with acetaminophen because the side effects are
minimal, then non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen may be used. Corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid and topical creams are also used.
• Protection and support of joints - some people use canes and splints to protect and to take pressure off the joints. Splints or braces are used to provide extra support for weakened joints.
• Surgery - helps relieve the pain and disability of osteoarthritis. A doctor may perform surgery to smooth out, fuse, or reposition bones or to replace joints.


Rheumatoid Arthritis

Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can help relieve your pain, reduce swelling, slow down or help prevent joint damage, increase your ability to function and improve your sense of well-being. Exercise, medication, and in some cases, surgery are common treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis need a good balance between rest and exercise; they should rest more when the disease is active and exercise more when it is not. An overall nutritious diet with the right amount of calories, protein and calcium is important. Some people need to be careful about drinking alcoholic beverages because of the medications they take for rheumatoid arthritis. Reducing stress also is important. Doing relaxation exercises and taking part in support groups are two ways to help reduce stress.

Most people who have rheumatoid arthritis take medications. Some drugs only provide relief for pain, others reduce inflammation. Still others, called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or DMARDs, can often slow the course of the disease. Steroids, which are also called corticosteroids, are another type of drug used to reduce inflammation for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Early treatment with powerful drugs and drug combinations instead of single drugs may help prevent the disease from progressing and greatly reduce joint damage.

In some cases, a doctor will recommend surgery to restore function or relieve pain in a damaged joint. Surgery may also improve a person’s ability to perform daily activities. Joint replacement and tendon reconstruction are two types of surgery available to patients with severe joint damage.

No matter what type of arthritis you have, the goal of treatment is to reduce pain and improve daily functioning. It is important that treatment recommendations be followed. This may be difficult to do in a disaster situation, but following your treatment plan can go a long way in maintaining your quality of life.