Treating Arthritis With Medications
Pain relief is the primary objective of the treatment for patients suffering from Arthritis. Initially, medications which help reduce inflammation, are prescribed. With a reduction in inflammation, pain is relieved.
Pain-relievers are readily available as over-the-counter analgesics like Tylenol and NSAIDs like Aspirin, Aleve (naproxen), and Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) are given.
Topical NSAIDs such as pain-relieving creams, gels, and ointments, which you rub into the skin over an aching joint, can be another pain-relieving option.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), both older versions and the newer tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, can reduce your symptoms and disease progression.
Prescription NSAIDs, including Naprelan (naproxen), Indocin (indomethacin), and COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex (celecoxib), can improve control of inflammation, pain, and other symptoms of arthritis.
Corticosteroid medications, which include prednisone and cortisone shots, are often given in conjunction with other therapies, such as NSAIDs and DMARDs, to control symptoms and inflammation.
Are you Looking for Arthritis Treatment?
Non-medical Treatments
Other than the medications, there are alternative treatment modalities for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.
- Application of ice packs or cold fomentation helps in easing the inflammation and pain
- Reducing the body weight helps in reducing the stress on the joints
- Putting braces for the affected joint or placing a splint provides additional strength to the joint
- Some exercises give stability to the muscles, which improves the function of the joint
A Novel Technology - Stromal Vascular Fraction
Regenerative medicine has taken leaps and bounds in clinical practice. The stromal vascular fraction, which is a combination of preadipocytes, pericytes, endothelial progenitor cell, T-cell, B-cell, mast-cell, adipose tissue macrophages, and the extracellular matrix, can regenerate, provide pain relief, and increase the function of the knees with a long term safety and efficacy profile.
The stromal vascular fraction procedure is a single sitting procedure, which enables the patient to get back to normalcy in a short time.
To conclude, arthritis treatment, especially the osteoarthritis of knees, requires proper evaluation before treatment starts. Click Here to Know More
Physical Therapy for Arthritis Treatment
Physical therapy strengthens the muscle and gives support to the affected joint. It also helps in improving the range of motion and relieves stiffness.
Surgical Intervention
Till recent times, when all the medical managements fail to contain the pain, the patient is left with only one option: total knee replacement (TKR). It is a complicated surgery, and an artificial implant is placed inside the joint. It requires a lot of care, and the rehabilitation process is also long. Sometimes, there is a failure of surgery, and the patient may require repeat surgery, such as in case of infection, implant failure, or avascular necrosis.
