Your Arthritis Treatment Options
Your Arthritis Treatment Options
Before you can come to terms of any sort in terms of what arthritis treatment you should use, you have to fully understand the disease of arthritis itself, how it works and what is involved with it. Only by making yourself more informed in this regards first will you be able to have any success with any arthritis treatment.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a chronic, serious condition, one that affects millions of people worldwide. It is actually one of the most common diseases in the world, and it affects the joints and bones of the body. There are several different types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis, and each different type of arthritis has a unique treatment program.
A proper diagnosis has to be made in terms of determining which specific type of arthritis a person is suffering from before arthritis treatment can be prescribed, and this is why it is so important that any person, at the first sign of any arthritis symptoms, get in to see their doctor right away so that a proper diagnosis and assessment can be made as promptly as possible.
If left untreated, arthritis can become incredibly swollen and painful, and can even be potentially dangerous.
Arthritis Treatment
Once you have had a proper diagnosis, then a specific arthritis treatment method can be recommended. There are basically steps of treatment that are taken for this disease. The first is the mildest, and involves using topical medications, such as gels and creams. These work by either warming or cooling the skin, a sensation which basically distracts the sufferer from the pain.
If this is not enough however, more serious forms of arthritis treatment will be used, namely arthritis medication, and there are dozens of different prescription drugs that are currently used to treat the condition. You may be prescribed one, or a combination of drugs from any of the following types: steroids, disease modifying drugs, anti-TNFs, and painkillers.
The painkillers are the most often recommended, and they are available in a variety of strengths, with the milder ones available for over-the-counter purchase, while the stronger ones will require a prescription from your doctor.
Regardless of which method of treatment is recommended to you, it is very important that you keep in constant contact with your doctor so that you can keep them abreast of your condition and whether it is improving or worsening so that further steps can be taken, if necessary.