Osteoarthritis is a problem that many people suffer from and it can cause a lot of discomfort and in fact can lower your quality of life becasue you are stopped from doing many of the activites that you would like to do.

Osteoarthritis medications can ease the pain. The most common type of medication doctors recommend reduce swelling as well as pain. As a group, these drugs are called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are ASA, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These drugs give relief, but they do not cure the disease or stop it from getting worse. If used for a long time, NSAIDs can cause stomach problems, such as ulcers or bleeding. Acetaminophen relieves pain without causing stomach problems, but it does not reduce inflammation.

Steroid medications can be injected directly into the joint with a small needle to reduce inflammation and pain, but are usually not a permanent solution. Artificial joint fluid can be injected into joints to help relieve pain and make movement easier.

Many people take herbal remedies and supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, devil’s claw, and antioxidants. Because supplements have the potential to interact with other medications or to have an effect on other health conditions, it is important to discuss any supplements you are considering with your doctor or pharmacist.

Heat and cold treatments can help reduce pain. So can mild exercise. Splints and braces can be used to support weak joints, but they should be used only if recommended by your doctor, because incorrect use of a brace can cause joint damage. In severe cases of osteoarthritis, surgery may be recommended to replace or repair the damaged joint.

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I thought that over the next few days I would put up some posts about arthritis. My wife has settled with arthritis for years and not a lot has helped. There are of course a lot of pills on the market notably Vioxx and Celebrex (which my wife did take) the problems with these drugs is that the Cox-2 inhibitors have been linked to heart problems.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general name for over 100 conditions and diseases that affect the joints of the bones. Many people with arthritis do not have any symptoms in the early stages, Later, there may be joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. The muscles surrounding the joint may be sore, too. Some common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, and gout.

While not all of the causes of arthritis are known, several factors that may contribute to a person’s risk of developing the condition have been identified, including: Read the rest of this entry »