Monday, October 21, 2013

Finding Effective Arthritis Pain Relief

By Jessie Uresti


Finding effective arthritis pain relief is one of the most important steps that any patient can make in managing their condition. Physical discomfort can lead to reduced activity, sleep problems and even depression. All of these things make effective treatment much more difficult. This potential downward spiral is well known to doctors and patients alike.

There are a variety of forms of arthritis and also other related musculoskeletal diseases. All of these conditions are similar but there are some differences between them. Treatments for different conditions may vary slightly so understanding as much as possible about the individual diagnosis will help anyone affected by any of these illnesses.

Medication undoubtedly has a part to play in the treatment of chronic pain but anyone taking over the counter preparations on a regular basis will benefit from expert advice. Long term drug therapy needs to balance the greatest possible benefits against the need to avoid unwanted side effects. Physicians at centers such as the Mayo Clinic or teams from the Toledo Pain Management Centre will often recommend a holistic approach where medication is just one aspect of therapy.

The most beneficial treatment for any joint or muscular disease is regular, gentle exercise. It is not surprising that people feel disinclined to do things that hurt them but failure to maintain a healthy regime of walking, swimming or similar activities will cause muscles to weaken. This will in turn reduce joint stability causing the condition to become more disabling than would otherwise be the case.

Some activities are not recommended, specifically anything that requires the same movements over and again is best avoided. Sports such as tennis or high impact aerobic programs can increase the stress placed on joints and cause further damage. In all cases it is important to balance exercise with periods of rest to avoid over-straining the body.

Caffeine and nicotine both cause build up of toxins in the system which can exacerbate symptoms. Diet is particularly important in fibromyalgia treatment with a focus on maintaining energy levels by eating small frequent meals. Doctors sometime advise patients to keep a food diary so that they can monitor flare-up and see if particular foods may be responsible.

The overall aim of therapy should always be to enhance the quality of life of the person suffering from any chronic condition. Medication is one of the approaches to arthritis pain relief but is most effective when combined with other therapeutic tools. Teamwork between doctor and patient will enable the best individualized treatment program to be developed.




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