When treating arthritis, the best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered ALL of your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what changes the experts think are significant when trying to control the pain and discomfort of arthritis.

Exercise is very important. But what about diet?

For a long time, doctors doubted there could be any link between diet and osteoarthritis. They saw the disease as a natural result of wear and tear on the joints, something inevitable as we age.

But new research is making them reconsider that idea.

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Tylenol Arthritis Pain is a drug which has been developed for temporary relief of arthritic pain and inflammation. It contains the active ingredient Acetaminophen, and this is the generic name for the drug.

It can be purchased without a prescription, and does not irritate the stomach like other medication such as aspirin or ibuprofen. It is supplied in time release caplet form, meaning that the drug is released over an extended time period. This means that the medication need not be taken as frequently as other pain killers.

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It is a proven fact that heat helps relieve the pain of arthritis. With this in mind, a thermal material has been developed that holds the body’s heat within a specified area. For those suffering from swollen and painful joints, the arthritis relief gloves now being produced can give them a much wider range of motion and greater flexibility and reduce pain.

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There’s no doubt that gout can be an extremely painful and distressing condition. Gout is traditionally treated with NSAIDS or anti- inflammatories. Allopurinal is often prescribed as it can inhibit the formation of arthritis causing uric acid within the body. However, this medication can have serious side effects, such as kidney failure and inflammation of the blood vessels. Other prescription drugs can also have adverse side effects, such as nausea, weakness, thinning of bones, bruising and abnormal bleeding. Many are not considered safe to take long term.

Many people are turning towards natural remedies for treating gout. These are much safer, with little or no side effects.

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Several herbs have been found to be beneficial in treating arthritis and reducing joint pain and inflammation. There is also less risk of the side effects which may be associated with conventional medication. The most commonly used herbs are listed below;
Ginger is used to treat pain and inflammation, and has been used in ancient Indian cultures for centuries.

Black Cohosh has pain- relieving qualities similar to aspirin. It has also been shown to reduce joint inflammation.

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Many arthritis sufferers have found some relief from their symptoms by using arthritis cream. These products are applied to the skin, and can mostly be obtained over the counter. Some of the creams contain the pain relievers Menthol and Capsaicin, whilst others contain an active ingredient such as Salicylate.

Arthritis creams have very few side effects and are generally safe to use, but if you are planning on using them you should consult your doctor as there is a chance that they could affect other medication you may be taking. If you have sore or broken skin, you should also be wary of using them.

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Many arthritis sufferers have found that taking supplements such as Glucosamine can relieve the symptoms of arthritis, sometimes effectively as other pain killing medication such as Ibuprofen.

Arthritis is caused by the degeneration and deterioration of the cartilage layer surrounding the joints. This causes the bones to rub against each other, causing discomfort, pain and deformity of the bones. Glucosamine works by stimulating the body’s natural production of the proteins which rebuild and replenish the damaged cartilage. This means that the Glucosamine is treating the cause of arthritis rather than just the symptoms.

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The treatment of arthritis by holistic medicine is becoming increasingly  popular. Once dismissed as mere fantasy or even dangerous, even doctors are now being forced to accept that holistic medicine has been shown to have many benefits in the treatment of chronic conditions such as arthritis.

Holistic medicine approaches are that diseases tend to develop from several different causes, varying from person to person. Contributory factors for disease development also include imbalances caused by environmental, mental and other physical factors.

Physicians practicing holistic medicine always try to find the root cause of any disease, and patients will usually undergo a variety of diagnostic tests, including examination of diet, digestive function, immune system, stress levels and emotional/ mental condition.The idea is to treat the body and mind as a whole- hence ‘holistic’.

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Once a person is affected by Arthritis, it can continue to affect them for life. There is unfortunately no cure for Arthritis, but there are several medicines available which can help to alleviate symptoms. Some work as pain relievers, others reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis, and yet others control the disease itself. Arthritis sufferers may be prescribed just one or a combination of drugs.

Painkillers or Analgesics
Painkillers come in different strengths, from those that can be bought over the counter to the strongest ones which must be prescribed by a doctor. They may also contain anti-inflammatory medication.

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As well as taking prescribed medication for arthritis, and using other treatments such as arthritis creams, there are a few other arthritis remedies which may be worth exploring;

Diet The importance of a healthy diet cannot be underestimated, and will enable the body to heal itself from within. It is thought that some dietary carotenoids can alleviate arthritis symptoms. Carotenoids are nutrients found in foods such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins and other yellow, red, deep green and orange vegetables.

For more information on foods to eat to alleviate arthritis symptoms, click here

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