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ARTHRITIS RELIEFThere is no single treatment that provides arthritis pain relief to all people who have arthritis. There are short term arthritis relief treatments which can be effective, they are: • Medication- This can to quite an extent provide arthritis pain relief. However you should not go ahead and self medicate. You must consult a doctor or a health care professional who will guide you in the right direction. • Heat and cold- Depending on the type of arthritis and after discussion with your doctor, you can use heat or cold therapy for arthritis relief. • Joint protection- Using a splint or a brace to allow the joints to rest and to protect them from injury can be helpful in providing arthritis relief. • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) - This consists of a small device that directs electrical pulses to the nerve endings lying beneath the skin surface in the affected area, thus resulting in arthritis relief. • Massage- This is an arthritis relief method. But you must ensure that the person giving the massage is a qualified massage therapist, since arthritis stressed joints are very sensitive. • Acupuncture- This procedure should only be done by a licensed acupuncture therapist. Scientists think that this method stimulates the release of natural pain relieving chemicals produced by the brain or nervous system. • Ointments, creams and rubs Some sources of long term arthritis relief are: Medication- NSAID …….. (Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) are a class of drugs for both long term and short term arthritis pain relief, especially in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. DMARDS…… (Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs) are given to people who are not responding to NSAIDS, for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroids- These are drugs that are very effective for arthritis pain relief treatment. They can be taken by mouth or given by injection. Because frequent injections can cause damage to the cartilage, they should be taken only once or twice a year. It must be kept in mind that no medication should be taken without a proper consultation with a doctor. BRM….(Biological response modifier) Weight reduction- Excess weight puts extra stress on weight bearing joints. Weight reduction can provide arthritis pain relief and helps in preventing the condition from worsening. Keeping body weight down or reducing when body weight is too high, can greatly relieve the stress on weight-bearing joints. Overweight men and women have a substantially increased risk of knee osteoarthritis, and women have a slightly increased risk of hip osteoarthritis. Exercise- A qualified physical therapist can help you chalk out an exercise program, which can help reduce joint pain and stiffness. Some common exercises are- Strength Training exercises, Range of Motion Exercises (These activities keep the joints limber.) Agility Exercises (Many of these exercises help you maintain everyday living skills.) Neck and Back Strength. Keep your spine strong and limber. Surgery- In select cases surgery may be required. It can provide dramatic arthritis pain relief and improvement in motion for many people with arthritis. The different types of surgery in arthritis treatment are- • Arhtrodesis…..(.The surgical fixation of a joint, ultimately resulting in bone fusion. Basically, the procedure is artificially induced ankylosis performed to relieve pain or provide support in a diseased or injured joint). • Arthroplasty… (The creation of an artificial joint. The surgical restoration of the integrity and functional power of a joint). • Arthroscopy… (Examination of the interior of a joint, such as the knee, using a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision.) • Osteotomy …..( Surgical division or sectioning of bone) • Synovectomy... (Excision of part or all of the synovial membrane of a joint.) Physical therapy- This can provide a lot of arthritis relief but it must be followed through only after a proper consultation with a qualified physical therapist. Occupational therapy- Occupational therapists teach ways to conserve energy and prevent stress on joints when performing activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. Along with the conventional short term and long term arthritis relief methods; there are also various alternative therapies available which can provide arthritis relief. Some complementary therapies seem to offer significant relief from pain with very few side effects, and therefore may be useful for arthritis relief. How ever you must consult with a qualified health care professional before you go ahead with any alternative therapy. Some of the well known ones are yoga, tai chi, meditation, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements, MSM supplements etc. |
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