As everyone experiences arthritis in a different way, individual treatment and management advice is usually given. It is important to start treatment as early as possible after symptoms begin in order to reduce further damage to joints and improve quality of life.
The treatment of arthritis usually involves a range of healthcare professionals. These may include:
- your GP,
- arthritis specialist (rheumatologist),
- physiotherapist,
- occupational therapist,
- nurse specialist,
- dietitian,
- podiatrist,
- pharmacist, and
- social worker.
Treatments for osteoarthritis
The medicines prescribed for osteoarthritis tend to fall into three groups:
- analgesics - such as paracetamol. They help to relieve pain.
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - such as ibuprofen and aspirin. However, when taken over long periods, or in high doses, these medicines can lead to digestive problems and bleeding in the stomach. Aspirin should not be given to children under 16 years of age. Cox-2 selective inhibitors are a type of NSAID which are designed to be less harmful to the stomach. However, research has linked the use of Cox-2 inhibitors to an increased risk of strokes, raised blood pressure, heart disease and hear attacks, so it is important to make your GP aware if you have a history of high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or if you smoke.
- corticosteroids - these are injected directly into the affected joint. However, this is not recommended on a long term basis because of serious side effects, such as wasting away of tissue surrounding the joint.
Sometimes, surgery (arthroplasty) may be used to treat severe cases of osteoarthritis. Arthroplasty involves either reconstructing, or replacing, a diseased joint. For arthritis patients it can help restore movement and function to the joint. However, not all joints can be artificially replaced. Other possible procedures might include realignment of the joint (osteotomy).
Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
The main objective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is to reduce the damaging inflammation. Some of the main treatments are outlined below.
- Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can help stop the progress of rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the earlier these are prescribed, the more effective they are. DMARDs are thought to have fewer side effects than long-term use of drugs, such as paracetamol. However, there are some associated risks including diarrhoea, nausea, skin rash and hair-loss. DMARDs are often used in conjunction with NSAIDs
- Relaxation techniques and physiotherapy can be effective in treating some types of arthritis, particularly those that involve swelling of the joints.
- Some alternative techniques include low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and low doses of orally administered corticosteroids, although the evidence of these treatments being beneficial is limited.
- New medicines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF ) blockers, are in development and are showing very promising results. However, this type of medicine is not appropriate for everyone with arthritis.
There are a number of other therapies that have been used to treat arthritis. However, not all of them have been clinically proven to be effective. These therapies include:
- massage,
- acupuncture - the insertion of fine needles at chosen points on the skin,
- osteopathy - a mixture of gentle and forceful massage techniques aimed to reduce pain and swelling,
- chiropractics - involves careful manipulation of the joints, muscles and tendons to provide pain relief,
- hydrotherapy - exercise programmes in either a warm shallow swimming pool or a special hydrotherapy bath,
- electrotherapy - uses electrical impulses (tiny electrical shocks) to stimulate the nervous system, and
- nutritional supplements - such as glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin and fish oil.
Carers
If you are looking after someone who suffers from arthritis that affects them so much that they need you to help them with their activities, Carers Direct can help you. On Carers Direct you can find out all about how to get help with caring for the person you look after, your legal and employment rights, and getting benefits on Carers Direct.
