Clinics for the treatment of arthritis provide individualized care by using state-of-the-art techniques to improve everyday functioning and reduce arthritic pain.
Many patients begin their path to treatment by talking to their family doctor. The doctor may recommend X-rays that reveal damage to the cartilage in the joint.
Doctors specializing in rheumatic diseases can help you with pain relief, including disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
These slow the progression of RA and save joints and tissues from permanent damage.
4 Ways Arthritis Treatment Can Improve Quality of Life
Visit arthritis treatment centers for relief and revitalization. Here, professional teams create individualized treatment regimens to meet your particular arthritis difficulties.
#1. Medications
RA treatment aims to control pain and stiffness and improve your function. A combination of long- and short-term treatments is often used.
Medications that relieve pain include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. NSAIDs may cause stomach problems or increase your heart attack or stroke risk.
If you take NSAIDs, read the label carefully and talk with your doctor about how much and often to take them.
If NSAIDs are ineffective, your doctor may prescribe a class of medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, or chlorambucil.
These medicines help stop long-term harm to joints and other tissues by slowing the evolution of RA.
Acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles at specific points in the body, can also reduce pain and stiffness by triggering your nervous system to release natural pain-relieving chemicals.
Other pain relief methods include heat or ice packs and rubbing creams containing counterirritants such as capsaicin, which makes peppers spicy.
#2. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is an essential part of arthritis management. It helps increase strength, improve flexibility, and reduce pain and discomfort.
It can include massage, heat, or ice to reduce pain and swelling, as well as manual techniques like joint mobilization, soft tissue manipulation, and electrical stimulation.
PT also provides exercises that strengthen muscles around the affected joints, which can help support arthritic joints and prevent further damage.
It can also help modify the environment to accommodate people with arthritis and show them how to use assistive devices.
While it’s important to remember that PT isn’t a cure-all, it can effectively manage arthritis pain and improve your quality of life.
If you are considering pursuing PT, talk with your doctor first. They’ll be able to guide you in the best direction for your unique situation.
#3. Surgery
For some patients, surgical operations can help relieve pain and improve function. Some surgeries are done to find a problem, such as a biopsy (removing tissue for examination under a microscope).
Other operations involve replacing damaged joints with artificial ones, such as knee replacement or hip surgery. Other treatments may include weight maintenance, medications, and alternative therapies.
Medicines may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, which can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis by reducing your body’s overactive immune system.
Other possibilities for arthritis treatment Orange Park FL, include acupuncture, which stimulates certain body spots with needles; this is often used for depression and stress but has little scientific evidence of effectiveness for arthritis.
Some patients benefit from light exercises such as yoga and tai chi, which increase flexibility and range of motion, and massage, which can warm and loosen muscles and joints.
The stroking and kneading movements of massage can also interrupt the transmission of pain signals to your brain.
#4. Counseling
Medications can help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and increase joint function. Your healthcare provider will create a treatment plan that includes short-term and long-term methods.
Your rheumatologist will try to identify triggers that cause flares, such as smoking, infection, or emotional stress. This will enable you to take steps to manage them so that you can avoid having fits.
If your RA is mild to moderate, the best treatment option is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium.
For more severe RA, your doctor may prescribe a DMARD, such as methotrexate. They may also suggest corticosteroids, which are more potent than NSAIDs but can have more side effects.
Applying ice or heat to the affected area, which can also reduce arthritic pain and stiffness. It’s essential to get regular exercise, but you should choose low-impact activities that are easy on your joints, such as swimming, walking, or cycling.
Before starting an exercise program, you should check with your healthcare team, as it may interfere with any arthritis medicines you take.
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