There are multiple options available that can help provide arthritis pain relief in your joints, such as your knees, hips, back, hands, and other key areas, so that you can get on with your life and engage in the daily activities you enjoy.
Getting the right treatment for your
arthritis pain
Here's an overview of some of the pain-relief treatments commonly used to help with arthritis pain management. Remember, only you and your doctor can determine what medication(s) and other treatments are right for you, and you should always talk to your doctor before taking any medication or supplement.
Non-drug treatments
Medications
Other treatments
Non-drug treatments. Besides your medications, there are other methods of osteoarthritis pain relief you may wish to discuss with your doctor, including
- Heat treatment (warm baths, heating pads and wraps, etc)
- Cold therapy (cold packs, ice massage, etc)
- Massage (with a therapist familiar with arthritis-stressed joints)
- Joint rest (bracing or splinting)
- Lifestyle changes can help remedy joint pain for some patients. For example, exercise can strengthen the muscles around a joint, making it more stable. Weight loss can also reduce pain by relieving pressure on joints
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), using mild electric pulses on the skin over affected areas
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Medications. Two types of oral medications often used by doctors to treat osteoarthritis.
- Analgesics ("an-al-GEE-sics") are a type of medication used to help manage arthritis by relieving the pain in the joints caused by this condition
- The most common analgesic is acetaminophen
- For more severe pain, doctors may prescribe analgesics that also contain another type of pain medication, like codeine
- NSAIDs ("EN-sedz"), or “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,” are commonly used in arthritis treatment. Because they are both analgesic and anti-inflammatory, these medications treat not just pain but also inflammation. Because NSAIDs can have significant side effects, you should avoid prolonged usage unless you are under the care of a doctor
There are three types of prescription-strength NSAIDs doctors typically use to treat arthritis
- Traditional NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen; these are also known as “COX-non-specific” medications
- COX-2 selective NSAID
- Salicylates (“suh-LIS-uh-lates”), such as aspirin
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Other treatments. A variety of other medications and supplements may be prescribed to help manage osteoarthritis pain. Some examples of these treatments include
- Topical pain-relieving creams, rubs, and sprays
- Corticosteroid injections, used short-term to reduce severe inflammation and pain
- Viscosupplements, injected into the knee to help lubricate the joint
- Oral supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
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The information on this Web site is not intended as medical advice and should not take the place of talking with your doctor about how to manage and treat your osteoarthritis. If you have any questions about osteoarthritis, talk to your doctor or health care provider. You should also talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you would like more information about VIMOVO.
Next: NSAIDs for Arthritis Pain
