Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis Treatment
Arthritis treatment is based on the severity of symptoms and location of the joint inflammation. Oral medications and topical creams can help relieve joint pain. Physical therapy and activity modification can improve flexibility and joint health. Your doctor may recommend diet changes to eliminate foods that increase inflammation. Although there is no cure for most types of arthritis, early diagnosis and proper management are important, particularly for inflammatory types of arthritis.

Recently Answered

  • QWhat are the possible side effects of steroid injections for arthritis?
    2 Answers
    A
    Dr. Grant Cooper, MD - Princeton, NJ - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
    A , Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, answered
    Rarely, after a steroid injection for arthritis, a joint can have a "post-injection flare" in which symptoms temporarily worsen. The flare will generally subside within 48 - 72 hours. If this happens to you, call your doctor for further care, and also to help rule out an infection.

    In addition to the effects on the joint, steroid injections can raise blood sugar levels, so people with diabetes need to be especially aware of this potential side effect and discuss it with their doctor. A steroid injection can change the pigmentation of the skin, making it lighter. This is a rare complication, but it is a potential problem, particularly in people with darker skin. There are other side effects, and some people are not good candidates for steroid injections. If you are taking a blood thinner, you may need to discontinue it prior to the injection. It is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your physician. If you do have a steroid injection, be sure to have it done by a qualified, experienced professional.

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    The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis (A DiaMedica Guide to Optimum Wellness)
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  • QWhen should I take my arthritis medications?
    2 Answers
    A
    Shelley Peterman Schwarz - Madison, WI - Neurology
    A , Neurology, answered
    Discuss timing of arthritis medications with your doctor. Medications can have different effects on different people. Timing your medication to your personal body clock can maximize benefits. If your medication affects your energy or mood or wears off at an inopportune time, discuss with your physician the possibility of taking it on a different schedule. If an early morning increase in arthritis symptoms is trying, ask about taking long-acting tablets at bedtime to help you wake up more comfortably.

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  • QWhy can exercising in a swimming pool help heal arthritis?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. Michael Roizen, MD - Cleveland, OH - Internal Medicine
    A , Internal Medicine, answered

    If it hurts too much to walk, exercise in a (preferably) warm swimming pool. The buoyancy of the water takes the weight off your joints and allows you to recondition. Pool exercises have been shown to be even more effective than regular walking for healing arthritis.

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  • QWhat should I do if an arthritis treatment doesn't work for me?
    1 Answer
    A
    Shelley Peterman Schwarz - Madison, WI - Neurology
    A , Neurology, answered
    Recognize your uniqueness. Everyone is different; you have your own unique symptoms and responses to everything, from activity to medications. Be aware of what works and what doesn’t seem to work for you.

    Work with your doctor to find what works for you. If one medication is not helping, ask to try another. If side effects are worse than the original condition, speak up. Be an active participant in your health care.

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  • QWhat natural remedy can help relieve my arthritis?
    2 Answers
    A
    Dr. Geraldine M. Navarro, MD - Porter Ranch, CA - Rheumatology
    A Rheumatology, answered on behalf of
    There are some over-the-counter herbal remedies that include turmeric and other herbs that some people claim help arthritis. However, there is not enough data to make a formal recommendation. Some herbal remedies contain a mixture of herbs that may have unknown side effects.
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  • QWhat are benefits of long-acting or time-release pills for my arthritis?
    1 Answer
    A
    Shelley Peterman Schwarz - Madison, WI - Neurology
    A , Neurology, answered
    If you do not have to take medication as often, there are fewer pill bottles to open, fewer pills to take and less stress about missing a dose. Ask your doctor if a long-acting or time-release version is appropriate for you.

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    Arthritis
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  • QWhat is osteotomy surgery for arthritis?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. Grant Cooper, MD - Princeton, NJ - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
    A , Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, answered
    An osteotomy is performed when arthritis has damaged one specific area of bone. In this procedure, a piece (or pieces) of bone is removed from the joint in order to realign it. This procedure is appropriate for younger, active patients with preserved functional joint range of motion, a small joint malalignment that needs correcting, and/or pathology that is restricted to one portion of the joint. If a joint malalignment is contributing to the progression of arthritis, correcting the malalignment and removing the diseased portion of bone may reduce symptoms, redistribute the weight to the healthy part of the joint, and slow progression of the arthritis.

    Find out more about this book:

    The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis (A DiaMedica Guide to Optimum Wellness)
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  • QHow can total shoulder resurfacing be used to treat arthritis?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. John W. Uribe, MD - Miami, FL - Orthopedic Surgery
    A Orthopedic Surgery, answered on behalf of
    Total shoulder resurfacing is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for degenerative conditions of the shoulder such as arthritis. In it, the ball of the shoulder is preserved and resurfaced, restoring the normal anatomy of the joint.

    Loosening of the socket cover is the most common complication in traditional shoulder replacement surgery, occurring in as high as 20% of cases. However, in this procedure, the plastic surface is inlaid into the socket, which makes it less prone to loosening as well as more anatomically correct. On the socket side, the implant is inserted into the socket as opposed to on top of the socket, which significantly reduces the possibility of loosening.
  • QCan acupuncture help treat arthritis?
    2 Answers
    A
    Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine
    A answered
    Acupuncture can be complementary or an alternative treatment to manage pain from arthritis. Acupuncture has low to minimal side effects.
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  • QWhat are exercises to treat heal pain from arthritis and gout?
    1 Answer
    A
    National Academy of Sports Medicine
    A answered
    Arthritis and gout are most often associated with articulating joints like the big toe, the ankle, knee etc. If the patient has persistent heel pain on the bottom of the heel and foot, the most likely culprit would be pain associated with plantar fasciitis, a heel spur or perhaps a stress fracture of the calcaneus (heel). X-rays and a bone scan can be used to rule these problems out and can be prescribed by a physician. Following diagnosis, treatment in the form of medication and exercise can be initiated to help. In any case, a physician’s evaluation and diagnosis is the first step.