Arthritis

Treatment for arthritis

Different types of arthritis are treated by different medications. Some arthritis medications aim to reduce pain and inflammation. Others work on the disease process itself and aim to slow down or stop damage to the joints. The medications your doctor prescribes will depend on your type of arthritis and the severity of your symptoms. Let your doctor know about any other medications or treatments you're taking - even if you've purchased them from a supermarket, health store or complementary therapist (such as a naturopath or homeopath). The most common types of medications used to treat arthritis include:

• pain-relieving medications (analgesics, such as paracetamol)-can provide temporary pain relief
• creams and ointments- can be rubbed into the skin over a painful joint to provide temporary pain relief
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) -to control inflammation and provide pain relief
• corticosteroids - to quickly control or reduce inflammation
• disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medications (DMARDs)-control your overactive immune system

Symptoms of arthritis

Arthritis affects people in different ways and each condition will have specific symptoms. However, common symptoms are:

• pain
• swelling, redness and warmth in a joint
• muscular aches and pain
• stiffness or reduced movement of a joint
• general symptoms such as fatigue and feeling unwell.