Osteoarthritis Treatment Overview

Treatment focuses on managing arthritis pain and maintaining the ability to use the joint

Natural Herbal Heat packs that work both hot and cold A couple of minutes in the microwave and you are on your way to relief

Back braces back braces support the lumber region with compression and/or semi rigid panels

Chiropractic Pillows Some pillows feel good others make you feel good.

Improve bone strength Natural supplements to improve bone strength and joint health

Massagers - Hand Held Massage tools that make giving a professional massage a snap. Give a longer more penetrating massage without tiring.

Osteoarthritis conservative treatments

Treatments for osteoarthritis are usually conservative and may include:

Rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) to relieve the arthritis pain from osteoarthritis and inflammation

Some nutritional supplements may effectively reduce the symptoms of Osteoarthritis.

Traction and/or chiropractic manipulations to help control chronic symptoms or provide relief for more severe episodes of arthritis pain from osteoarthritis. Although osteoarthritis tends to be chronic, the symptoms may come and go, flaring up time to time.

Over the Counter arthritis painkiller

An over-the-counter arthritis painkiller, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), can help to ease stiffness and arthritis pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn and others) also may help. However, NSAIDs may be unsafe for people at high risk of developing ulcers, including people who have had ulcers in the past and the elderly.

Non-selective NSAIDs

Non-selective NSAIDs were developed earlier than COX-2 inhibitors and have been widely used to relieve arthritis arthritis pain and inflammation for many years. Unlike COX-2 inhibitors, non-selective NSAIDs inhibit both major enzymes involved in the inflammatory process, COX-1 and COX-2. The non-selective NSAID category includes a number of different medications that are available in both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products.

COX-2 inhibitors

For people at a high risk of developing ulcers and the elderly do have limited access to newer medications requiring a prescription called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, such as celecoxib (Celebrex), may be less irritating to the stomach and intestines. COX-2 inhibitors are the newest members of the NSAID class of medications. Available by prescription only, they became widely used in recent years to reduce joint arthritis pain and swelling. COX-2 inhibitors work by selectively blocking, or inhibiting, one of the two enzymes associated with inflammation. Some experts have hypothesized that this selective inhibition may be the reason for the negative cardiovascular effects currently associated with COX-2 inhibitors.

However, recent controversy about the safety of arthritis pain medications for arthritis has left patients and health care professionals alike uncertain about which medications are safe to use. In fact, a recent survey by the Boston-based Rippe Lifestyle Institute indicated that many people with arthritis are suffering unnecessarily because they have stopped or reduced their use of arthritis pain relievers due to confusion about which drugs are considered safe.

To clarify the confusion around recent news about arthritis medications, here are some facts:

On April 7, 2005, the FDA announced the following:

All prescription NSAIDs must revise their labeling to include a “black box” warning that highlights the potential increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) events as well as the potentially life threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated with these drugs. Celebrex, the only COX-2 inhibitor remaining on the US market, was included in this directive.

Bextra, a COX-2 inhibitor manufactured by Pfizer, was being voluntarily withdrawn from the market.

Update Alert:

Two of the COX-2 inhibitors have been withdrawn from the market — vadecoxib (Bextra) on April 7, 2005 and rofecoxib (Vioxx) in September 2004. In rare instances, when inflammation is significant, your health care professional may remove fluid from the joint and inject the joint with a corticosteroid drug. This is recommended for acute problems with weight-bearing joints, usually the knee. However, these drugs can damage the joint if they are used too much, so your health care professional will use them only when absolutely necessary.

All OTC NSAIDs (except aspirin) will be required to revise their labeling to include more specific information about the potential for GI and CV side effects, a stronger reminder to follow label instructions, as well as a warning about potential skin reactions. To further evaluate the potential for increased CV risk, the FDA also announced that all NSAIDs must conduct and submit to the Agency a comprehensive review and analysis of pertinent safety data from clinical trials.

The conventional medical treatment for osteoarthritis consists mainly of analgesic medications, such as Tylenol, and anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Aleve. The main problem with anti-inflammatory drugs is that they can cause ulcers.

The most disturbing possibility is that the use of conventional anti-inflammatory drugs may actually speed the progression of osteoarthritis by interfering with cartilage repair and promoting cartilage destruction. In contrast, natural treatments not only provide symptom relief but may actually slow the course of the disease.

All of these medications should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. Do not combine them with other drugs without consulting your physician. Stomach problems, including ulcers, are the most common side effects of these medications. Other arthritis pain medications, such as tramadol (Ultram) or codeine-type medicines, may be prescribed if the other medicines don't work.

Other Common Place Over The Counter Approaches

Over-the-counter creams containing capsaicin applied to the skin over arthritis painful joints also may help. Applying heat or cold can relieve arthritis pain temporarily. Your health care professional also can advise you on the use of heating pads, hot baths and ice packs to ease the discomfort.

Your health care professional likely will suggest that you engage in certain exercises to reduce stiffness and improve your ability to move the joints. Aquatic exercise is particularly indicated due to the resistance of water and the zero weight atmosphere. Because extra pounds put pressure on sensitive joints, it is important that you control your weight.

Read on for both medical and natural treatment approaches

Some of our products for Arthritis ....