Health

Now that we have defined what arthritis is, we can discuss what the medical field will
offer you in one form or another. The doctors and rheumatologists have diagnosed the
arthritis so it their duty to follow through with a medical plan.
You might be offered an anti-inflammatory in pill form. An anti-inflammatory or NSAID is
usually very safe to take and does not interfere with any other medication you might be
taking. It is used for arthritis pain, sports injuries and headaches. It will relieve the
constant pain or ache if taken on schedule, daily and with food. The only side effects that
I am familiar with are stomach problems, so take them with food to reduce the risk of an
ulcer,
Names of NSAIDs that you might recognize are Naproxen, Celebrex and aspirin. In fact,
ordinary baby aspirin of 81 mg is also recommended for heart patients to prevent blood
clots. So in addition to relieving pain, aspirin is good for the heart in a small dose every
day. An NSAID is fine to relieve the inflammation but the pain is a different matter.
Pain relievers that can be prescribed or sold over the counter are Tylenol, Advil, Motrin,
and many others too many of which to include. These pain relievers in addition to the
NSAIDs as above would be an adequate combination to help out with the pain and aches of
arthritis.
If, however, your arthritis, or disc degeneration is so severe, and the pain unbearable, the
doctor may give you a prescription for Tylenol #3 or #4, Oxycocet or Percocet which are
if you are
taking these on a regular basis. I take mine at night to give me a deep sleep along with
Naproxen to reduce the swelling. Also keep in mind that these are narcotics and they are
very potent. Do not leave any pills or medication within reach of a baby or youngster,
Opiates are also very habit- forming and can become a problem if you take them for a long
period of time.
In addition to medication, the doctor may request that you have sports therapy which is a
special athletic gym with equipment to reduce the weight bearing on your joints and give
your muscles a work out. Physiotherapists are trained to put you on a routine of special
equipment to take the pressure off of the joints and to reduce the inflammation. It is
wonderful to take part in the facilities and to gain some strength and agility back.