Arthritis: treatment

Arthritis simply means joint inflammation. More than 100 arthritic diseases may affect the joints and connective tissues of the body. While no cure exists for arthritis, proper treatment can allow normal activity and decrease symptoms.

Different kinds of arthritis require different kinds of treatment. It is important for a person with any type of arthritis to work closely with the healthcare provider. The provider can develop a treatment plan that will minimize the pain and improve the way the joints work.

There are a number of short term treatments for the relief of pain. The first is medication. People with osteoarthritis may be helped with acetaminophen. They have little inflammation in their joints. People with other types of arthritis may need to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen for treatment of their pain and inflammation. Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. NSAIDs should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).

The healthcare provider may suggest using heat or cold depending of the type of arthritis being treated. Sometimes a splint or brace will be used to let the joint rest and protect it from injury. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) directs mild electric pulses to the nerves that are under the skin in the painful area. TENS may relieve some types of arthritis pain. Gentle massage of a painful muscle may be suggested. The massage increases blood flow and makes the area warmer, making the pain less. This needs to be done by a massage therapist who is familiar with the problems of arthritis.

Many drugs, some of them new, are used for the long term relief of arthritis. These may include biological response modifiers, which help to reduce inflammation in the joints. NSAIDs can be used for both short and long term relief of pain and inflammation. This group of drugs includes COX-2 inhibitors that block an enzyme that causes inflammation. When NSAIDs do not work, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with DMARDs has to be watched carefully by the provider to avoid side effects. Corticosteroids are very effective in treating arthritis, but may cause side effects. They can be taken by mouth or injected into a joint.

Other treatments may be hyaluronic acid, which is injected into the knee joint and acts as a lubricant. It helps the knee to move without pain. A special blood filter may be used for treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis to filter harmful antibodies out of the blood.

Excess weight puts extra stress on weight bearing joints, so a weight reduction program can be very helpful. Exercise that includes range of motion exercises, stretching exercises, and low- impact aerobic exercise like walking or swimming may help to reduce joint pain and stiffness. A physical therapist should help plan a program that is right for each person.

For some people, surgery may be necessary. Surgeries that can be done are synovectomy to remove the synovium, the lubricant in joints; osteotomy to realign a joint; and joint replacement to replace a damaged joint with an artificial joint.

A treatment plan may change from time to time, continue for a long period of time, and can be used alone or in any combination. It may take time to find the right combination of treatments that will produce the best results for each individual person. There are also many self-management education programs that help a person with an arthritic disease reduce their pain and the cost of treatment.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File ARTH3405.rf2 VRS# 4179 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999-2000, 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.