Arthritis Treatments | About Arthritis Today

Arthritis symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, inflammation, and limited movement of joints. When a joint is inflamed, it may be swollen, tender, red, or warm to the touch. In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are covered by cartilage, a spongy material that allows almost frictionless motion between bones. The joints are enclosed in a capsule and lined with tissue called the synovium. This lining releases a slippery, lubricating fluid that helps the joint move smoothly and easily. With arthritis, the cartilage may be damaged or worn away by degenerative processes or by inflammation, making movement painful and difficult. If left undiagnosed and untreated, arthritis may progress to cause irreversible damage to the joints.

In the past, arthritis pain and inflammation were primarily treated with the use of medications and local steroid injections. Unfortunately, it was rare that these arthritis treatments were able to completely eliminate the pain or improve the underlying joint damage.

Most arthritis medications fall into three categories: those that relieve pain; those that reduce inflammation or the body process that causes swelling, warmth, and redness; and those that slow the disease process and limit further damage to the joints.

One of the most commonly prescribed types of drugs for arthritis are known as NSAIDS. NSAIDS stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs are used to keep the inflammation of the area affected by arthritis to a minimum, allowing for a decrease in pain and stiffness, and possibly giving the joint a slightly longer range of motion. Commonly used NSAIDS include such household drugs as simple aspirin, ibuprofen, and celebrex.

The next most common arthritis treatment is the use of a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). This treatment includes several unrelated medications intended to slow or stop the progression of the disease and prevent disability and discomfort. DMARDs include Rheumatrex (methotrexate), Azulfidine (sulfasalazine), and Arava (leflunomide).

Corticosteroids represent another type of drug that is used by arthritis patients. These drugs work by reducing swelling and inflammation in those with arthritis, leading to pain relief and a loosening of the stiff joint. Corticosteroids are most often used to stop inflammation in joints and organs that may be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis. Since these drugs are steroidal, and very similar to a compound produced in the adrenal glands, dosage varies from case to case. If used over a long period of time or in too high of doses, corticosteroids have been determined to lead to long term problems.

Unfortunately, corticosteroids given orally and for prolonged periods and at higher doses may carry side effects such as brittle bones, cataracts, elevated blood sugar, and an increased susceptibility to infections throughout the body.

Biological products are A relatively new class of drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as biologics. These treatments are derived from living sources, such as cell culture systems. Conventional drugs, on the other hand, are chemically synthesized. Currently licensed biologics reduce inflammation and structural damage of the joints by blocking a substance called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein involved in immune system responses.

Enbrel (etanercept) was the first biologic to receive FDA approval for patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. Enbrel decreases pain and morning stiffness and improves joint swelling and tenderness. The two other TNF-blocking products approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis are Remicade (infliximab) and Humira (adalimumab). All three TNF blockers have been shown to improve physical function in two year studies.

More and more people are turning to non-traditional arthritis treatments, such as herbs, oils, chemicals, special diets, radiation, or other products. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), however, there's no scientific evidence that such treatments cure arthritis. Moreover, some of these unproven treatments may lead to serious side effects. Patients should talk to their doctors before using any therapy that has not been prescribed or recommended by their health care team.

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Did You Know?

When you think of arthritis, you probably think of stiff joints and swollen muscles. Maybe you picture an elderly person with pained wrists or knees who must use an assistive device simply to walk through the house. But it needn't be this way. Just because you've been diagnosed with arthritis doesn't mean you have to say goodbye to feelings of flexibility and body movement. Maybe you think that you can no longer move the way you used to. The opposite is true: arthritis patients must seek out movement more than they did before their diagnosis. Movement is important to retain flexibility, improve posture, and build strength.