When To Avoid Nsaids
You should not use NSAIDs for pain if you are allergic to aspirin or similar drugs. If you have heart disease, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, asthma or a history of stomach problems, or if you take blood thinners or a diuretic, ask your doctor before taking NSAIDs. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should ask your doctor before taking naproxen, although ibuprofen is considered safe except during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Current Analgesics Used To Treat Arthritis
The focus of rheumatology is the best possible patient care and management of disease-related pain and impact on the patient by understanding the underlying pathophysiological aspects of this inflammatory disease process. Greater understanding of pain mechanisms and growing appreciation for pain control have, however, caused rheumatologists to consider new approaches in pain management. Whereas central pain mechanisms are increasingly addressed in the pharmacological therapy for fibromyalgia patients, it is less clear how to manage the centralized pain processes in OA and RA patient populations. Therefore, it has been proposed that clinicians change the concept of pain control in arthritis-related pain to one of pain-modifying analgesic drugs . The following drugs are the main categories of pharmacological agents used for pain control in OA and RA patients. It should be noted that all treatment options may be combined with nonpharmacological approaches.
Hot And Cold Treatments
Using either heat or cold treatments can reduce the stiffness and pain of arthritis.
Cold packs numb the sore area. They are especially good for severe joint pain and swelling caused by a flare . Heat treatments relax your muscles. You can use dry heat methods such as a heating pad or heat lamp or moist heat methods, such as a bath or hydrocollator pack.
Read Also: What Foods To Avoid With Gouty Arthritis
Will Changing My Diet Help My Rheumatoid Arthritis
When combined with the treatments and medications your provider recommends, changes in diet may help reduce inflammation and other symptoms of RA. But it wont cure you. You can talk with your doctor about adding good fats and minimizing bad fats, salt and processed carbohydrates. No herbal or nutritional supplements, like collagen, can cure rheumatoid arthritis. These dietary changes are safer and most successful when monitored by your rheumatologist.
But there are lifestyle changes you can make that may help relieve your symptoms. Your rheumatologist may recommend weight loss to reduce stress on inflamed joints.
People with rheumatoid arthritis also have a higher risk of coronary artery disease. High blood cholesterol can respond to changes in diet. A nutritionist can recommend specific foods to eat or avoid to reach a desirable cholesterol level.
Donât Miss: How To Know If You Have Arthritis In Your Hand
What About Cbd Oil For Arthritis
Many people immediately turn away when any mention of cannabidiol oil comes up as a potential treatment for many conditions. And with some good reason. Although legal medically and recreationally in 29 states, CBD oil is not approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration for treatment of any medical condition.
CBD is extracted from marijuana and hemp plants. Even though it does not create a high like the more familiar THC extract might, both oils remain illegal in the eyes of the federal government.
Another reason people shy away from CBD is due to the lack of research on its effects. Because marijuana is illegal, there are few scientifically valid studies of its proper dosing, treatment success, and side effects. Most evidence is anecdotal, and results can vary.
But there is a reason CBD oil for rheumatoid arthritis keeps coming up as a potential treatment. In 2016, a study of transdermal CBD oil as a treatment for inflammation and arthritis in rats yielded positive results with few, if any, negative side effects . Although the researchers are quick to suggest that more human studies are needed, initial results are promising and warrant further investigation.
The best option to learn more about this controversial treatment is to talk with your doctor about the potential benefits and side effects, as well as the process for getting a medical marijuana card if the use of CBD oil is legal in your state.
Read Also: Can You Take Aleve Everyday For Arthritis
Arthritis And Joint Pain Management
Many professional organizations have guidelines for managing arthritis pain. A common theme across guidelines is that pain management strategies should be flexible, include options that do not involve medication, and be tailored to meetthe needs of the patient. Such guidelines suggestthe following for managing arthritis symptoms such as pain:
- Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .
- Physical activity/exercise or community-based physical activity programs.
- Exercise therapy, including physical therapy.
- Self-management education workshops.
- Weight loss, if overweight or obese.
- Cognitive behavioral therapya psychological, goal-directed approach in which patients learn how to modify physical, behavioral, and emotional triggers of pain and stress.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Emerging evidence suggests that these are safer and more effective treatments for managing long-term arthritis pain than opioids.
- A recent study of individuals with knee and hip osteoarthritis, the most common types of arthritis, found that after one year, people who took over-the-counter medications had greater reductions in pain severity than people who took opioids.
Safer options exist to help manage arthritis pain.
Education And Behavioural Change
Patient education has been recommended as a fundamental component of arthritic pain management however, objective evidence for efficacy remains poor. Systematic reviews report few well-designed randomized controlled trials of education alone . In contrast, more substantial evidence exists for the efficacy of lifestyle modification, particularly exercise and weight reduction .
Several systematic reviews evaluating aerobic and strengthening exercises have demonstrated clear benefits with regard to both pain reduction and improved function in people with knee and hip OA . Weight loss also reduces OA-associated knee pain in overweight individuals and improves physical activity, especially when combined with regular exercise . Measures that maintain adherence to a regime, such as keeping a personal diary or social support from friends, are thought to improve long-term outcome . Braces and orthotics can also be effective, although evidence for the efficacy of these measures has yet to be fully established in clinical trials.
A small proportion of patients with identifiable musculoskeletal pathology experience extreme and widespread symptoms, often associated with recognizable behavioural changes indicative of a chronic pain syndrome. These individuals may benefit from psychological/cognitive-behavioural therapies as part of a multidisciplinary strategy. Accumulating evidence attests to the efficacy of these approaches in such patients and is reviewed elsewhere .
Also Check: Is Carrot Good For Arthritis
Hot And Cold Treatments For Joint Pain
Warmth has been used for many years to help relieve pain and stiffness. As well as a warm bath or shower, you could try heat packs that can be placed on the area which is in pain to help.
Cold can relieve swelling which can then ease pain. You can apply an ice pack or cold pack for up to 20 minutes every couple of hours. Some people use a mixture of both hot and cold alternately. Its best to try a few options to find what is right for you.
Osteoarthritis And Joint Pain
About 9 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis, making it the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects the cartilage lining of the joints, causing it to roughen. This makes it more difficult to move and causes pain and stiffness. As the cartilage becomes rougher and thinner, the tendons and ligaments in the joints work harder. Small bits of bone can grow in the joint, and there can be an increase of fluid. The joint can also change shape.
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it usually occurs in the knees, hips and hands.
Signs of osteoarthritis that you might notice are:
- Increased pain or stiffness when you haven’t moved your joints in a while
- A grating or crackling sound or sensation in your joints
- Your joints appearing slightly larger or more knobbly than usual
- Your range of movement being limited
You May Like: What Can Arthritis Do To You
Before Taking This Medicine
Using Arthritis Pain in a child or teenager with flu symptoms or chickenpox can cause a serious or fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome.
You should not use Arthritis Pain if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
-
a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding
-
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia or
-
if you have ever had an asthma attack or severe allergic reaction after taking Arthritis Pain or an NSAID .
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
-
asthma or seasonal allergies
-
heart disease, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure.
Taking Arthritis Pain during late pregnancy may cause bleeding in the mother or the baby during delivery. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
You should not breastfeed while using Arthritis Pain.
Joint Pain Relief: When Should You Avoid Aspirin
You should not take aspirin if you know you are allergic to it. You should also avoid aspirin if you:
- Have bleeding problems
- Are scheduled for surgery
If you drink more than three alcoholic drinks per day, donât take aspirin. Doing so could increase your risk of stomach upset and gastrointestinal bleeding. If you have kidney or liver disease, talk to your doctor before using aspirin.
Read Also: How To Relieve Arthritis Pain In My Hands
Topical Treatment For Joint Pain
Topical treatments, those that are applied directly to the area, are commonly used for joint pain and there is evidence they can help relieve osteoarthritis pain in your knees and hands particularly. Hand and knee osteoarthritis is usually treated with creams containing NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which you can get over the counter at your local LloydsPharmacy. They are best applied with a gentle massage, using the amount specified on the leaflet.
Emotional And Social Effects On Arthritis Pain
Your fears about pain, previous experiences with pain and your attitude about your condition can affect how you react to pain and how much pain you feel. Your cultural and religious background and the way people around you react to pain may also affect how you react to pain.
In addition, the emotional ups and downs of arthritis may affect your pain. If you feel depressed and stressed, your pain may seem worse. You may get caught in a cycle of pain, depression and stress that makes everything seem harder to handle.
Also Check: What Can I Use For Arthritis In My Hands
Does Alternating Heat And Cold Therapy Help
Many people find it beneficial to alternate between heat and cold therapy. You can switch between hot and cold therapies throughout the day. Usually, its best to wait at around 20 minutes between sessions, though you can also alternate between hot and cold water in the shower. Always start and finish with a cold treatment.
Talk with your doctor before alternating between full-body treatments such as an ice bath and a sauna or hot tub.
What Blocks Pain Signals
Many scientists think pain control methods help reduce pain by blocking pain signals. Pain signals are sent through a complex system of nerves in the brain and spinal cord.
There are many things that can block these signals and thus prevent the pain message from reaching your brain.
Pain signals are blocked by chemicals made by the brain called endorphins. There are several things that can cause the brain to produce endorphins. These include “natural” controls, such as your own thoughts and emotions, or “outside” controls such as medicines.
Natural controls
A father driving with his children is hurt in a car accident. The father is so worried about his children that he doesn’t feel the pain from his own broken arm. The concern for his children somehow blocked the pain signal and kept the pain from affecting him.
Outside controls
Certain medicines such as morphine imitate the body’s endorphins and block the pain signal. Other pain control methods, such as heat and cold treatments, physical therapy, exercise, relaxation and massage can stimulate the body to release its own endorphins or to block the pain signal in other ways.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Treatment For Arthritis
These Low Impact Exercises Could Help With Joint Pain:
- Cycling can give you a good workout, is gentle on your joints and you can enjoy it with all the family
- Swimming is easy on the joints too and it also works all the muscles in your body, so can help keep you in shape too
- Using weights or resistance bands can help boost the muscles around your joints, helping to make them stronger and more stable
- Yoga or Pilates can also help strengthen your joints and maintain mobility
For strengthening exercises, start with as many repetitions you can comfortably do and then build up gradually. When doing exercises, slowly move as far as you can until you feel a stretch in the muscles around the joints. Then hold still in the position, aiming for 20 seconds.
Exercise 1 – Sit on a chair and using one leg at a time, pull your toes up, tighten your thigh muscle and straighten your knee.
Exercise 2 – Stand in front of a chair and hold on with both hands for support. Slowly crouch keeping your back straight and heels on the floor.
Exercise 3 – Sit with your knees bent and feet together. Press your knees down towards the floor, using your hands as needed.
Exercise 4 – Lie on your back. Pull each knee in turn to your chest, keeping your other leg straight.
Don’t forget, if you have arthritis, it’s advisable to check with your GP before starting any new exercises.
Arthritis Joint Pain Medication
Experiencing joint pain can make everyday tasks challenging. From texting to washing the dishes to picking up items off the shelf at the grocery store, we use our joints all day long. The wear-and-tear joints undergo over the years can lead to arthritis. When youre dealing with joint painwhether it be moderate or severemedication can help bring relief. Check out the information below to learn more about the different types of over-the-counter joint pain medication for arthritis, and find the best option to help you manage your pain.
Donât Miss: Can An Mri Detect Rheumatoid Arthritis
Also Check: How To Relieve Arthritis Pain In Thumb
Managing The Pain Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Understanding the causes of pain in RA can go a long way to helping you to find the best ways to manage your pain.
Pain is an extremely personal experience. While this review will try to explain some of the simple mechanisms of pain and the current treatments for pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients, such an overview represents a view based on an understanding of the evidence-based literature on current RA therapies and an individual rheumatologists experience it cannot fully explain every individual patients pain problems. All pain that is present for a reasonable length of time, no matter what the underlying cause, can be associated with poor sleep patterns and depressed mood. The stress associated with RA-related job loss or relationship problems all impact on how we cope with pain. Pain involves not only the nerves at the site of pain but the nerve pathways leading to the brain and special pain pathways within the brain itself. Very simply, pain is a complex phenomenon.
Should You Get Help For Arthritis
Whatever type of arthritis a person has, a key factor in determining when to treat itand when to perform surgeryis how they tolerate pain, says Dr. Luo. There are people with mild arthritis who seek care early to avoid prolonged pain, while others dont remark on their pain, even after an X-ray shows extensive damage, he explains. Some have a lot of arthritis and never need treatment, while others have a lower level of arthritis and need surgery. Everyone is different, he says.
“I think the time to seek out a specialist for arthritis is when it is affecting your daily life, says Dr. Luo. If its a minor inconvenience, its not worth getting injections, braces, or surgery. But if you can no longer do the things you normally do, a specialist can help.
Read Also: How To Treat Arthritis At Home
How Should I Take Arthritis Pain
Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.
Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving Arthritis Pain to a child.
Take with food if Arthritis Pain upsets your stomach.
You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an enteric-coated or delayed/extended-release pill. Swallow it whole.
Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Do not use Arthritis Pain if you smell a strong vinegar odor in the this medicine bottle. The medicine may no longer be effective.
Antidepressants For Osteoarthritis Pain
Your doctor may recommend the use of antidepressant medication to help treat chronic OA pain even if you donât have depression. Itâs not clear how it works, but brain chemicals affected by antidepressant medications may play a role.
One antidepressant, duloxetine , is FDA-approved for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain, including chronic osteoarthritis pain. Common side effects include nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, and constipation.
Doctors sometimes prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline, desipramine , and nortriptyline for chronic pain. These are most often taken near bedtime because they can make you sleepy. Other side effects include dry mouth, nausea, weight change, and constipation.
All antidepressant drugs carry a boxed warning of higher risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults. Anyone starting antidepressant drugs should be monitored closely for any unusual behavioral changes, suicidal thinking and behavior, or worsening of a psychiatric disorder.
Show Sources
You May Like: What Causes Joint Pain Other Than Arthritis