Three Common Options for Treating and Managing Your Arthritis

Three Common Options for Treating and Managing Your Arthritis

Three Common Options for Treating and Managing Your Arthritis

Are you tired of dealing with the pain and discomfort associated with your arthritis?  Millions of people suffer from the symptoms of arthritis, including the aches and pains when you move, the stiffness of your joints, and the overall lack of mobility you feel daily.  Because of the prevalence of arthritis, there are many treatment options that your orthopedic surgeon in Deltona can recommend to you.   These are just a few of the most common types of treatments to help you manage your arthritis.

Take Medication

Medications to treat the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis can be purchased over the counter or with a prescription from your doctor.  Anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, are some of the first medications your doctor may encourage you to take, as they will alleviate the pain associated with an inflamed joint.  Analgesics, like Tylenol, will also work to treat pain, but they will not reduce inflammation.  Steroids, antirheumatic drugs, and biological response modifiers may also be used to manage the pain of arthritis.  These are drugs that you will need to have administered or prescribed by your physician, so they will require appointments and assessments from a professional.

Perform Self-Care

There are a few different treatment options that you can do at home to alleviate your pain.  This includes massaging the affected area, living a healthier lifestyle, staying active, and using heating pads and ice packs.  When you take care of yourself and listen to your body, you can provide it the quick and easy treatment methods to alleviate pain, even if it is only temporarily.  Weight loss and proper nutrition can also help to manage your pain, even if these are more difficult for patients to implement in their routine.  

Surgical Options

When your doctor has exhausted many of the other options to alleviate the pain of your arthritis, they will begin to look at surgical options.  To determine what type of surgery you will need, they will look at certain factors, like age, affected joints, and type of arthritis.  The most common types of surgeries to treat arthritis often involve joint replacements, whether they are full or partial.  In these surgeries, the affected joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint.  Most patients that have joint replacement surgeries report much less pain than before, which makes it a great option once all others have been exhausted.

These are just a few of the most popular options for treating your arthritis.  Learning how to live and manage your arthritis will allow you to live a more comfortable, healthy, and happy lifestyle.  If you are suffering from the pain and discomfort of this common illness, contact our orthopedic surgeon in Deltona to schedule a consultation with our experts today.