| Do you know what to expect when you go to see | | | | accompanied by inflammation |
| your doctor about your arthritis? | | | | *Use of opioids if the person does not respond to |
| It's a good idea to be familiar with the guidelines your | | | | milder drugs. |
| doctor should be using. While the guidelines need to be | | | | *Referral for possible surgery as soon as drug |
| individualized for each person, if you know the basic | | | | therapies are no longer working, to prevent |
| guidelines you'll be able to ask you doctor for the | | | | progression of the disease. |
| rationale behind any changes. It's always better to | | | | In addition to medication treatment, the guidelines call |
| know what to expect; it helps you ask better | | | | for clients to maintain an ideal body weight and follow |
| questions and communicate more effectively with your | | | | a balanced and healthy diet. |
| doctor | | | | A regular exercise program is of the utmost |
| Guidelines by the American Pain Society recommend | | | | importance in managing chronic arthritis. If you're not |
| early intervention and aggressive treatment of chronic | | | | able to exercise due to chronic pain, request a referral |
| arthritis pain to try to check the progress of the | | | | to a physical therapist or occupational therapist to |
| disease before the person become significant disabled | | | | develop a program that can restore flexibility, range of |
| and unable to perform most day to day activities. The | | | | motion, strength and endurance. It's easy to become |
| suggested progression of treatment is: | | | | frustrated by the inactivity that comes with chronic |
| *Start with what are called COX-2 selective | | | | pain, but a physical therapist can help you find a level |
| nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for | | | | of activity that is manageable for you and help slow |
| treating moderate to severe pain, or mild pain if it's | | | | down the progression of this disease. |