The most important goal in treating arthritis is the reduction of pain and stiffnes. Reduction of body weight and exercise is first prescribed in people suffering from arthritis. If exercise and weight loss is not effective in reducting the symptoms of arthritis, the next part of the treatment involves the use of medication. In cases where arthritis is severe and disabling for the person, the best option would be surgery.

Weight Loss:

An overweight person puts excessive pressure on the joints and this could increase the risk of having osteoarthritis. A person which already suffers from osteoarthritis and overweight at the same time can have an accelerated wear and tear on the joints. A condition like this would definitely worsen and aggravate the symptoms of arthritis. Losing weight would help in easing up the strain on your joints and this would eventually reduce the wear and tear on the tissues inside the joint. Maintennance of a normal or healthy weight can be achieved by exercising more often. Selecting a healthy and balance diet consisting of foods that are low in fat and rich in fiber should constitute the bulk of your diet.

Exercise:

Regular exercise is an effective way of relieving the pain and stiffness due to osteoarthritis. Exercise can slow down the progression of this disease. The maintennance of a normal weight can easily achieved by exercising regulary. Exercise keepts the muscles supporting the joints stronger thus protecting the joints from further damage. Regular exercise helps in the joints more flexible enabling you to move without pain. The best exercise for people suffering arthritis includes stretching, mild muscle strength training and low impact aerobic exercise.  Some of the exercise you can try are mild weight lifting, walking, jogging and cycling. Consult first your doctor for the types of exercise which would suit your body.

Heat and Cold:

Hot and cold compress had been a long time solution for relieving the pain, swelling and stiffnes from osteoarthritis. In some persons, hot compress works for them while others require the use of cold compress. The technique for using compress involves applying hot or cold objects in affected areas for a maximum application time of 20 minutes. You should wait first for the skin temperature to come up at a normal lelvel before reapplying hot or cold compress.  In general, hot compress  is good for the relaxation of the muscles that is why hot shower in the morning works great for people with arthritis. Cold compress seem to reduce the pain by numbing the affected area. You should not directly apply ice on the skin because this can cause blistering, look for reusable cold packs instead.

Medication:

When weight loss and exercise is not effective in reducing the symptoms of osteoarthritis, the doctor may recommend medications. These medications are used to reduce the pain and tenderness of the joints. Topical pain relievers have lesser side effects compared to oral medications. Some of these topical medication creams contain salicylates and capsaicin. Topical creams need to applied for at least 3 to 4 times daily and they should be used regularly.

Analgesics - the typical analgesic medication that is prescribed by doctors is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen does not cause stomach irritation unlike aspirin. It can be used by older people who have suffered ulcers or have bleeding problems.

NSAIDs - this medication can relieve pain and they can also reduce inflammation as well. Examples of NSAIDs are the following aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation when used for several months or longer.

Corticosteroids - these are artificial or man-made compounds related to a naturally occurring hormone on the body known as cortisone. Corticosteroids reduce pain and inflammation. They can be injected directly to the affected joint. Corticosteroids can only be given for only a few times a year since they can cause damage to bones and cartilage.

Surgery:

This procedure is only done in severe and disabling cases of arthritis in which other treatments have failed. Most people with osteoarthritis would never need surgery but if your doctor recommends that you need surgery it would be a good idea to get a second opinion from another doctor.

Joint Replacement - today we have artificial devices that can replace almost any joint in the body. Joint replacement is usually done in repairing the joints of the hips and knees but it can also be used to repair the joints of the ankles, fingers, wrists and toes. A good and successful joint replacement would relieve joint pain and it can restore most of the movement of the joint. The recovery time from joint replacement is from 3 to 6 months.

Arthrodesis - this procedure immobilizes a joint and it is done by inserting metal or plastic screws to hold the joint in place. Arthrodesis is only done when the pain from osteoarthritis is very severe that immobilizing the joint offers an improvement. Arthrodesis is usually done on smaller joints like the joints of the toes and fingers.

Osteotomy - bone removal or bone cutting is not frequently performed in people with severe osteoarthritis. This technique is performed on a joint wich is unevenly damaged by arthritis. Uneven damage on the joint can put higher stress on the cartilage and would eventually cause further damage. The surgeon would remove a small part of bone near the affected joint area, this procedure realigns the bone and makes the contact between the healthy areas of the cartilage in the joint much better. Osteotomy is ideal for younger people with arthritis since it can delay the use of joint replacement surgery for several years.

Arthroscopy - is a procedure used for diagnosing and sometimes for repairing joints. Arthroscopy is often performed on the joints of the knees and shoulders. The doctor performing arthroscopy would use a long viewing tube with a tiny video camera known as the arthroscope. The arthroscope is inserted via a small incision in the skin over the affected joint. With this device, the doctor can inspect any tissue damage and can make the necessary repairs. He can also use then tube to remove damaged areas of the cartilage or dislodged cartilage particles that are causing irritation.

References:

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Bathon JM, Martin RW, Fleischmann RM, et al. A comparison of etanercept and methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2000;343:1586-1593.

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Page last updated: May 02, 2009