| Prior to choosing which is the best arthritis treatment | | | | When you have found out from your physician, which |
| for you to use, you should find out about the disease, | | | | type of arthritis you have you are able to look at the |
| how it will affect you and all the different treatments | | | | different treatment methods an choose which is the |
| available. Once you understand how arthritis affects | | | | best one for you to try. The gentlest method is often |
| your body you will be able to decide which is the best | | | | the first one most people try. This involves applying |
| treatment to use. | | | | soothing gels or creams which either cool or heat the |
| Arthritis affects millions of people around the world and | | | | skin and thus stop you concentrating on the pain. |
| is in fact one of the most common diseases. It affects | | | | If this is not enough however, more serious forms of |
| the bones and in particular the joints of the body. | | | | arthritis treatment will be used, namely arthritis |
| There are three main types of arthritis, rheumatoid | | | | medication, and there are dozens of different |
| arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis. The | | | | prescription drugs that are currently used to treat the |
| treatment you will be offered will differ depending on | | | | condition. You may be prescribed one, or a |
| the type of arthritis you have. | | | | combination of drugs from any of the following types: |
| A correct diagnosis of which specific form of arthritis | | | | steroids, disease modifying drugs, anti-TNFs, and |
| is causing the problem has to be made before any | | | | painkillers. |
| treatment can be prescribed. If a person is suffering | | | | You may already be taking painkillers for your arthritis |
| from any of the symptoms of the disease it is | | | | but if you need a stronger version your doctor will be |
| important that he consults his physician at the first | | | | able to supply you a prescription for a more potent |
| available opportunity. The doctor will be able to | | | | version. |
| perform a full examination to determine the type of | | | | New medications and drugs for arthritis are constantly |
| arthritis that is causing the symptoms. | | | | being invented and improved so it is important to make |
| If left untreated, arthritis can become an extremely | | | | regular visits to your doctor to inform him of your |
| painful disease. The joints can become incredibly | | | | condition and if the medication is working. If it does not |
| swollen and painful, making them difficult to use. It can | | | | seem to be working your doctor may know of a |
| even be potentially dangerous as you could be liable to | | | | different remedy or medication that you can try. |
| have falls and to drop things. | | | | |