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Arthritis is a difficult condition to live with. It’s also distressingly common. It’s estimated that around the world, hundreds of millions of people suffer from some form of arthritis. And as you get older, it becomes increasingly likely that you’ll suffer from it as well. That’s why finding an effective form of arthritis treatment is so important.
Left untreated, the pain from arthritis can make handling basic tasks close to impossible. So what exactly is arthritis? What causes it? And what are some of the most effective forms of arthritis treatment?
What Is Arthritis?
On a basic level, arthritis is simply damage done to the joints that result in swelling and pain. Usually, this happens because of the gradual destruction of the lining between inside the joints called the synovium.
Your joints are essentially points where two bones meet. And because you wouldn’t be able to move with all of your bones scraping together, the synovium works to cushion this area between the bones, letting them move freely.
But in cases of arthritis, this synovium wears away, which leads to the pain and swelling that marks the disease. As a result, your joints are left achy and stiff, which makes moving difficult for people with arthritis.
What Causes It?
There are a lot of different kinds of arthritis, but there are two major distinctions that we can draw. First, there is osteoarthritis, which is when the synovium becomes so worn down that the bones begin pressing against each other. This is the most common form of arthritis and is common in older people.
The decades of stress that life puts on our joints wears away the synovium. It’s a typical problem that comes with age. But things that put extra stress on the joints, like obesity and overuse, can make it more likely.
The second important form of arthritis to remember is rheumatoid arthritis or RA. This condition is actually the result of something called an autoimmune disease. You see, in a healthy immune system, the body’s white blood cells create antibodies that attack and destroy foreign bacteria and viruses. But in an autoimmune disease like RA, the immune system instead attacks your own cells, leading to inflammation. And in rheumatoid arthritis, the synovium is the target of these antibodies, causing your joints to swell up.
What Are Effective Forms Of Arthritis Treatment?
The first aim of any effective arthritis treatment should be dealing with the inflammation in the joints. And there are a few different kinds of drugs that work well for this.
First, there are simple over-the-counter drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. These medications belong to a class of drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAID’s. NSAID’s work by not only reducing pain but limiting the inflammation of the joints which leads to arthritis.
But there is also another commonly prescribed class of drugs for arthritis treatment called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are a hormone naturally produced by the body to help heal inflammation. That makes them a good choice for handling the inflammation caused by arthritis.
But in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system is actually to blame, your doctor may want to prescribe you an immunosuppressant drug. These kinds of drugs work by limiting the activity of your immune system so it produces fewer antibodies. And fewer antibodies means fewer of them will be attacking your joints, which means less inflammation and less pain.
When it comes to treating the pain, many of the drugs are effective, but opioids are an option for people with really severe arthritis. Opioid-based painkillers work by blocking the pain receptors in your brain, and for treating serious pain, they are some of the most effective drugs. But they do carry certain risks of dependency and overdose. So it’s important to discuss with your doctor whether they are a good form of arthritis treatment for you.
Finally, if your joints are badly damaged, there is a surgical option. If the synovium in your joints is worn beyond repair, you can actually get something called a joint replacement. Basically, the procedure works by replacing the synovium with a piece of smooth plastic that lets your joints move without the pain and swelling of arthritis. Usually, it’s better to exhaust all the non-surgical options first, but in severe cases, this is sometimes the best choice.
So do you live with arthritis pain? What form of arthritis treatment do you use? Is it effective? Let us know in the comments section below.
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