Treatment of Arthritis
Arthritis actually consists of more than 200 conditions that affect the bones, joints and the tissues that are located around the joints. Osteoarthritis is a very common type of arthritis. Some of the other types of rheumatic conditions associated with arthritis are gout, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Arthritic conditions can involve aching, pain, swelling and stiffness in and around the joints. Symptoms may develop very gradually or suddenly. There are also certain types of rheumatic conditions that involve the immune system and various other internal organs present within the body. There can also be certain types of arthritic condition like lupus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, which can affect numerous organs and lead to widespread symptoms.
There are many kinds of arthritis and they can be classified in the following categories.
● Back arthritis
● Metabolic arthritis
● Infectious arthritis
● Inflammatory arthritis
● Connective tissue disease
● Mechanical or degenerative arthritis
● Soft tissue arthritis or musculoskeletal arthritis
The exact nature of arthritis treatment depends on the underlying conditions that are responsible for it. The main aim of treatment is to reduce pain, check joint damage and help the patient to improve his or her overall lifestyle.
The main methods that are used for treating arthritis include the following:
● Medications
● Weight loss
● Splints and joint assistive aids
● Non-pharmacologic therapies
● Patient education and medical support
● Occupational or physical therapy
● Surgical methods like joint replacement
In most cases, the doctor will first try to manage the condition by recommending different kinds of medications. Osteoarthritis is usually treated with pain medications, weight loss measures, physical activities and other methods. Such treatments are also used to treat inflammatory forms of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and biologics are used for treating the condition.
The medications depend greatly on the type of arthritis that affects a person. Some of the most common forms of drugs that are used for this purpose include analgesics, NSAIDs, counterirritants and others. The doctor also recommends various dietary changes that can help to reduce weight, minimize pains and also provide sufficient nutrition for the body. Some of the items that must be included in the regular diet include fishes, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans, whole grains and olive oil. Tomatoes must be avoided as they tend to have solanine, which can increase arthritic pains.
A patient should also have a well-balanced life of activity that helps to keep the bones and joints perfectly active. The patients should combine rest and activity to minimize pain and improve normal life and health. They should also adhere to physical therapy, occupational therapy and warm water therapy that can help in managing the condition in the right manner. If you are affected by arthritis, you should always consult your doctor.
