After an arthritis diagnosis, the next step is to create a treatment program. The goal for a treatment program is to decrease joint pain, improve mobility, and help with the completion of day to day activities. It is important for patients to work with their rheumatologist to help create the best plan for them.
Arthritis Management includes a variety of different treatments:
Physical Activity, Stretching, and Exercise – It is vital to keep your body moving while managing arthritis symptoms. Being active will help with joint stiffness, muscle strengthening, and the strengthening of other organs that can be affected by arthritis.
Weight Control – Getting to and staying at a recommended weight can significantly help by reducing the stress on your joints.
Assistive Devices – Assistive devices are an option for those patients who are not eligible for surgery, but their arthritis limits their physical activity. Devices can include shoe orthotics, supports, or braces.
Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is working on your movement. This is a good option for those that can’t complete daily activities due to their arthritis. Therapy will mainly focus on improving flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance.
Surgery – When joints are damaged severely due to arthritis, surgery may be an option.
Arthroscopy – This is a minimally invasive type of surgery where the surgeon will look inside the joint to examine the damage. They will also remove loose particles of damaged cartilage and repair other damages. This can reduce pain and improve function.
Arthoplasty – This is better known as a joint replacement. In a joint replacement, all or part of your joint is removed and replaced with synthetic parts.
Medication – While the previous options can help arthritis patients, many patients will use medications to help control pain. Your rheumatologist will help decide what medication is right for you.
Analgesics – Medications that relieve pain.
Non-Narcotic – These would be over the counter medications like acetaminophen. This is a good option to start with as they are low in cost and have very minimal side effects.
Narcotics – These would be pain medications that you would require a prescription to receive. They can provide stronger pain relief, but they can come with side effects such as dizziness and nausea. Also, over time dependencies may develop as your dose increases because your body builds up tolerance.
NSAIDS – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Examples would be aspirin and ibuprofen. These too can come with side effects such as stomach pain.
Injectable Steriods – A doctor can inject your joints to relieve pain and swelling. These types of injections can only be done so many times a year as they could lead to infection or cartilage damage.
Topical Pain Relievers – These types of pain relievers come in the form of gels, patches, rubs, or sprays and are applied on the outside of the skin over a painful joint.
