Osteoarthritis Treatment Now
While there's no cure for osteoarthritisosteoarthritis, you can still do much to relieve pain and stay active. Your Osteoarthritis treatment will depend on several factors, including the severity of your pain -- and how much it affects your everyday activities.
Osteoarthritis often progresses slowly, with periods when there's little or no change. If you have mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis, you can probably control your symptoms with nonprescription pain relievers. When those don't work, your doctor will advise you on the next steps in your Osteoarthritis treatment.
Medications for Osteoarthritis treatment
Over-the-Counter Painkillers
Analgesics: Drugs like Tylenol, which contains acetaminophen, relieve mild-to-moderate pain with few side effects in most people. Tylenol is typically the first drug people take for treatment of osteoarthritis pain.
Topical pain relievers: Creams, salves, or gels are analgesics that relieve mild pain when just a few joints are involved -- like your hand. They can also be used in addition to oral painkillers. Active ingredients include Capsaicin (found naturally in hot peppers), camphor, eucalyptus oil, menthol, and salicylates. ArthriCare, Aspercreme, BenGay, Capzasin-P, Eucalyptamint, Flexall, Icy Hot, and Zostrix are all topical pain relievers for Osteoarthritis treatment.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These drugs relieve pain by blocking chemicals that cause inflammation. They are reasonably safe drugs -- but, because of potential side effects like stomach irritation and gastrointestinal bleeding, it's best to take low doses for brief periods. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include: Advil, Aleve, Anacin, Aspirin, Bayer, and Motrin.
Glucosamine-chondroitin supplements: These compounds are natural substances found in joint fluid. They are thought to trigger cartilage production and reduce inflammation. The latest studies show potential in slowing the progression of knee osteoarthritis and relieving moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis pain.
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