Arthritis Treatment

  • Arthritis
    Arthritis is often seen as a disease that affects the elderly but it can affect people of all ages. According to the Arthritis Foundation, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65. And more people in their late 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with the condition 
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 3 July 2015

Medications: ​You may be prescribed the following medications depending on the cause of the arthritis:

  • Topical pain-relieving creams, rubs, and sprays. These medications are applied directly to the skin over the joints to relieve pain.
  • Pain killers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen)
  • Medications that suppress the immune system such as prednisone (steroids).Biologics are lately being used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis that is not responding enough to traditional medication. These are genetically engineered proteins that inhibit inflammation-causing components of the immune system.

Surgery
Surgery may be required to repair damage to a joint after injury or to restore function or relieve pain in a joint damaged by arthritis. Many types of surgery are performed for arthritis. These include:

Arthroscopic surgery: The surgeon views the joint using a thin lighted scope that is inserted through a small incision over the joint. If repair is needed, tools may be inserted through additional small incisions.

Bone fusion: In this procedure, joint surfaces are removed from the ends of the two bones that form a joint. The bones are then held together with screws until they grow together, forming one rigid unit.

Osteotomy: In this type of surgery, a section of bone is removed to improve the positioning of a joint.

Arthroplasty: This is also known as total joint replacement. This procedure removes and replaces the damaged joint with an artificial one.

Community
Muscle, Bone and Joint (earlier named Arthritis)
Condition
Arthritis
Changed
Wed, 07/05/2017 - 20:20

Stories

  • Management of Arthritis
    How to manage arthritis ​You may be prescribed the following medications depending on the cause of the arthritis: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/arthritis/treatments Rest and exercise People with arthritis should exercise. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there is strong evidence indicating that both endurance and resistance types of exercise provide considerable disease-specific benefits for people with osteoarthritis and rheumatic conditions (www.…
  • How to Prevent Arthritis
    Can it be prevented Maintain your ideal weight: Increased weight on the load-bearing joints, like knees, ankles and hips, makes you highly susceptible to osteoarthritis. Losing weight cuts the risk of arthritis. Exercise regularly: Try to exercise at least 20 minutes for three days a week if exercise is vigorous, or 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Practice yoga or simple stretching. These exercises strengthen the muscles around joints. Quit smoking, as it weakens bone health…
  • Arthritis
    What is it  The word “arthritis” means joint inflammation, and it's used to describe different diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround joints, and other connective tissue. Arthritis is often seen as a disease that affects the elderly but it can affect people of all ages. According to the Arthritis Foundation, two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65. And more people in their late 30s and 40s are now being diagnosed with the condition. As…
  • Causes of Arthritis and Risk factors
    What causes arthritis Although the exact causes are unknown, it is believed to include the following: Genetics Injury Infection Lifestyle related factors, primarily, smoking, diet, use of oral contraceptives and excessive coffee intake Obesity  Environmental factors, like stress Autoimmune conditions (your body's own immune system attacking the joints, causing inflammation - warmth, swelling, tenderness - within the joints) Are you at risk Are you: 65 or above in age: The risk of…
  • Arthritis Treatment
    Medications: ​You may be prescribed the following medications depending on the cause of the arthritis: Topical pain-relieving creams, rubs, and sprays. These medications are applied directly to the skin over the joints to relieve pain. Pain killers (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen) Medications that suppress the immune system such as prednisone (steroids).Biologics are lately being used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis that is not responding enough to traditional medication. These are…
  • Arthritis Symptoms and Signs
    Some signs and symptoms of arthritis require urgent medical care. If you have any of the following, you should seek medical care as soon as possible: One or more swollen joints Fever Weight loss Inability to function due to joint pain or swelling Overall sense of feeling ill, accompanied by fever, joint swelling and joint pain Sudden weakness of specific muscle groups Burning pain, numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation around joints. Symptoms depend on the type of arthritis you have:…
  • Arthritis Tests and Diagnosis
    The process of diagnosing arthritis involves several steps. The doctor will record your medical history and give you a physical examination. He/she may also recommend laboratory tests, imaging tests (such as x-rays), and other tests as required. Laboratory and imaging tests are sometimes, but not always, needed to determine the cause of arthritis. These tests may include: X-rays: To see a detailed picture of the bones. However, for many types of arthritis, changes in the joint are not visible…
  • 4 common sense take-aways from Bipasha Basu
    1. I believe in eating in moderation and eating at the right time. When you like food, it’s very important to like your body also. 2. I got into fitness in 2005 and it started with me having the handicap of osteo-arthiritis and because I got it at such an early age, it made me realise that your body is just a machine. You have to know your body type and work accordingly. 3. First thing fitness does to you is to give you a fit mind; your energies change. To handle that you need to be…
  • My excitement about life lets me forget the pain
    It’s impossible to imagine that super-tough fitness instructor Neha was once immobile with rheumatoid arthritis. She shares her story – from pain to power.  Like many of us do, I have clear, early images of myself. I was never a fat girl, but I was definitely on the plumper side, one of the reasons I took to exercising young. At 15, I began an exercise regimen. Days turned to months and months to years. Eight years later, at 23, I got married. Exercising remained an …
  • Eat blueberries and strawberries three times per week
    A significant study links berry consumption with improved heart health. You can’t get the same benefit from a pill or supplement. The finding comes from a new study led by Dr. Eric Rimm, associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School. “The sooner people start the type of diet that includes a higher intake of blueberries and strawberries, the better,” Dr. Rimm says. “The people with heart benefits had three or more servings of a half a cup of…