Arthritis: Symptoms & Treatments
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms
The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and decreased range of motion.
Treatment
Arthritis treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. You may need to try several different treatments, or combinations of treatments. Consult with your Pharmacist to determine what will work best for you.
Medications
The medications used to treat arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis. Commonly used arthritis medications include:
- Painkillers. These medications help reduce pain but have no effect on inflammation. An over-the-counter option includes acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs reduce both pain and inflammation. Over the counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve).
- Counterirritants. Some varieties of creams and ointments contain menthol or capsaicin, the ingredient that makes hot peppers spicy. Rubbing these preparations on the skin over your aching joint may interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.
- Corticosteroids. This class of drugs, which includes prednisone (Prednisone Intensol, Rayos) and cortisone (Cortef), reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system. Corticosteroids can be taken orally r can be injected directly into the painful joint.
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