Best Medicine for Arthritis Pain and Swelling

Numerous medications are available which are used to alleviate arthritis

pain , including pain relievers, topical applications and steroids. Self care

methods and alternative remedies can help with the use of medication.

In this article we know about the best medicine for arthritis pain and

swelling.

Understanding Arthritis Pain

Arthritis is an illness that affects your joints . It is characterized by pain

and swelling in the joints. It can affect any joint of the body like

hands,hips,knees, shoulders, wrists etc.

There are a variety of medicines to manage arthritis pain and swelling.

The best medication will depend on variety of factors including:

•the arthritis type

• the severity of arthritis and symptoms

•your overall health

Best medicine for arthritis pain and swelling

Pain and hardness in the bones can make it difficult for a person with

arthritis to move. The purpose of medication is to either alleviate pain, aid

to prevent further damage to the joint, or to stabilize the mobility.

These medications may or may not require a prescription depending on

a particular drug. Many of the medicines are taken orally but for some,

there is an option of applying or injecting it topically. Following are the 8 best medicines for arthritis pain and swelling.

Over the counter best medicine for arthritis pain

These drugs refer to medications that can be purchased without

prescription from a pharmacy or grocery store.

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is a drug beneficial for lowering fever and acute to

moderate pain .

Acetaminophen drugs work by lowering the formation of

prostaglandins, fat- derived compounds that enhance sensitivity to pain .

But acetaminophen does not help in the reduction of inflammation.

The daily dosage of 4 grams is recommended for adult patients to avoid

toxicity and overdose. Numerous other drugs also have

acetaminophen, so it is essential to check the labels of medications to

ensure no individual medication puts someone over 4 grams in a 24 hour

period.

This drug is effective for both children and pregnant women. For

pregnant women ,the lowest effective dose should be adhered to for the

shortest time period .

Benefits

● It has a low risk of stomach upset.

● Easily accessible and cost- effective.

Side effects

Acetaminophen has serious side effects which are following:

● GI bleeding

● Liver and renal damage

● Cardiovascular problems

● Skin reactions

Non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs

These are also used as pain relievers and easily available over the

counter for osteoarthritis – related pain and inflammation. These drugs

have potential to reduce both pain and rigidness associated with arthritis

pain. A well known example of NSAIDs are ibuprofen ( Advil,Mortin).

These also work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins.

Benefits

● Easily accessible without a prescription.

● Alleviate both pain and inflammation.

Side effects

Potential side effects can include:

● It can lead to digestive issues with prolonged use

● Cause stomach ulcers

● Risk of heart attack

● contraindicated in people with specific cardiac or renal problems

A person may only use these medications as needed. To prevent gastric

issues , doctors may prescribe proton pump inhibitors for daily use. The

pregnant or breastfeeding women, or individuals with certain medical

problems should consult to doctor before the use of these drugs.

Aspirin

Aspirin can also be used to treat acute to moderate joint pain without

prescription. Aspirin also works for Prevention of blood clot formation.

Topical creams

These topical creams, gels, liquid or medicated patches are used when

arthritis is limited to smaller joints like in the fingers. These topical agents

may have NSAIDs,a numbing agent called lidocaine, camphor or

combination of these. These drugs are used as alternatives for those

who cannot take other drugs orally.

Benefits

● Best for pain in specific areas

● Reduce chances of widespread adverse reactions

Side effects

● Less effective for intense pain

● Require frequent reapplication

Prescribed Best Medicine for arthritis pain

In some cases ,a healthcare professional prescribe medications for the

treatment of arthritis .Following are best medicines for arthritis pain and swelling.

NSAIDs prescription

Prescribed NSAIDs are stronger than the NSAIDs available over the

counter.

Following NSAIDs are prescribed commonly:

● Celecoxib

● Diclofenac

● Indomethacin

● Naproxen

Steroids

These drugs are helpful to suppress the immune system to decrease

inflammation resulting from arthritis.

They can be useful as a first – line drug for treatment because they work

quickly.

For short term usage corticosteroids are best .

Benefits

● Provide immediate pain relief

● Diminishing pain and swelling

Side effects

Steroids use for longer time period can cause following side effects:

● Hypertension

● Diabetes

● Weakened bones

● Enhance chances of infections

● Depression

● Insomnia

Injectable

The lubrication and cushioning in joints is provided by a substance called

hyaluronic or hyaluronic acid. It can be injected by the physician to treat

knee osteoarthritis. Various research studies have found that hyaluronic

acid may reduce pain and improve joint function of joints . The evidence

is not compelling, but it appears that the effect is moderate and short

term.

Disease Modifying Anti rheumatic Drugs

These drugs are prescribed to reduce Inflammation affecting your joints.

These are used to treat inflammatory types of arthritis like rheumatoid

arthritis.

Methotrexate is the most common and conventional synthetic DMARD

that is given.it is typically the first medication that is prescribed after you

have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefits

● Treat the disease itself not just its effects.

● Protect joints for further damage.

Side effects

● Delayed onset of action

● Demands frequent blood test

Other ways to treat

The following methods can help alleviate some symptoms of arthritis:

Exercise regularly

Engaging in regular exercise mat decreases joint pain and stiffness while

improving mobility. A person may try following low impact forms of

exercise:

•Walking

•Swimming

•Tai chi

•Biking

Use supplements

The Arthritis foundation states that certain vitamins and supplements

may be beneficial in dealing with some symptoms of arthritis. Mobile

search has had mixed results glucosamine and chondroitin can help in

maintaining the structure of joints and relieve joint pain .

Weight Management

Keeping a moderate weight is essential because extra weight can put

stress on weight bearing joints like the knee joint and hip joint.

Use heat or cold compress

Cold packs prove helpful to relieve painful swollen joints. Applying heat

therapy in the morning can aid loosen the joints while reducing muscle

spasm and stiffness.

Make use of assistive devices

A crutch, cane or walker can transfer the pressure to the assistive device

to reduce pressure on the joints, preventing overuse and increasing

healing.

Conclusion

Managing arthritis consists of relieving pain, preventing or improving

function and mobility as well as preventing further damage to a joint. The

best approach includes a combination of medications and alternative

treatments, Including self care practices. Before deciding on a course of

action, a healthcare provider will take into account the severity of the

Arthritis and the circumstances surrounding each individual.