What is the most effective treatment for arthritis?
NSAIDs. According to the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation (ACR/AF), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most effective OTC remedies for managing osteoarthritis pain.
What is the fastest way to cure arthritis?
Use hot and cold therapy Heat and cold treatments can help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. Heat treatments can include taking a long, warm shower or bath in the morning to help ease stiffness and using an electric blanket or moist heating pad to reduce discomfort overnight.
What are the six main treatments for arthritis?
Treatments for reactive arthritis can help relieve your symptoms.Medication to treat the main infection. ... NSAIDs for swelling and joint pain. ... Steroids for swelling. ... DMARDs to protect your joints. ... TNF blockers. ... Physical therapy and exercise.
What are 5 treatments for arthritis?
5 Types of Medication That Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)NSAIDs. Most people with RA are advised to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to decrease pain and inflammation. ... Steroids (Corticosteroids) ... Methotrexate and Other Traditional DMARDs. ... Biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis. ... Janus Kinase (JAK) Inhibitors.
What causes arthritis?
Arthritis is caused by inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis usually comes with age and most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips. Sometimes osteoarthritis follows a joint injury. For example, you might have badly injured your knee when young and develop arthritis in your knee joint years later.Apr 30, 2017
Is hot or cold better for arthritis?
Heat can relax muscles and help lubricate joints. Heat therapy may be used to relieve muscle and joint stiffness, help warm up joints before activity, or ease a muscle spasm. Cold can reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain related to arthritis and activity. (It is also recommended to treat many acute injuries.)
What happens if you leave arthritis untreated?
If left untreated, the long-term damage to the joints can be significant. Fibrous tissue may form around the joints, and bones may fuse together. This can cause deformity and a loss of mobility.
What is the safest treatment for arthritis?
NSAIDs may be used to treat the symptoms of inflammatory types of arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) and OA. Although acetaminophen is better in terms of safety, NSAIDs are often preferred for OA pain due to better pain relief.
How do you stop arthritis from progressing?
How to reduce your risk of arthritisStay at a healthy weight. Extra pounds put pressure on weight-bearing joints like hips and knees. ... Control your blood sugar. ... Exercise. ... Stretch. ... Avoid injury. ... Quit smoking. ... Eat fish twice a week. ... Get routine preventive care.
What is arthritis pain like?
In general, the first sign of arthritis is pain, also called arthralgia. This can feel like a dull ache or a burning sensation. Often, pain starts after you've used the joint a lot, for example, if you've been gardening or if you just walked up a flight of stairs. Some people feel soreness first thing in the morning.
What are 5 symptoms of arthritis?
5 Telltale Symptoms of ArthritisChronic joint pain. Joint pain that lingers on or regularly flares up is the primary symptom of arthritis. ... Joint stiffness. Joint stiffness is also very common when you have arthritis. ... Swelling around joints. ... Joint redness. ... Decreased range of motion.