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Arthritis Treatment Advice

By: Tara Smith The conservative medical community tends to treat arthritis with painkillers and exercise. This is because these drug therapies have been around for at least fifty years and surgery has a fairly high success rate, while many other remedies like dietary supplements are relative newcomers to the scene.

The only trouble with traditional treatment is that many painkillers can actually worsen the disease, while still masking the symptoms by providing pain relief. Many drugs prescribed for arthritis pain can upset the stomach causing nausea and diarrhea. If the wall of the gut becomes compromised due to the action of these drugs – or for any other reason – it can allow antigens to leak into the system enter the bloodstream and end up in a joint.

Once they reach the joint, they will trigger an attack by the white blood cells that are the body’s defense system. The end result is that this causes more pain and inflammation as the white blood cells release prostaglandins and leukotrienes in an attempt to dispose of the enemy. They also release digestive enzymes that begin to attack and digest the actual cartilage, bone, ligament and muscle that are supposed to be saved. This can then become a chronic problem, which is what happens in rheumatoid arthritis especially.

Even everyday medication like aspirin can have a negative effect on arthritis treatment. Since aspirin decreases the amount of essential vitamins the body needs, such as Vitamin B for example, this again can do more damage than good. With the body not getting the amount of vitamins it needs, the bones and cartilage begin to deteriorate, and lead to the same problems that cause arthritis in the first place.

Non-steroid drugs such as ibuprofen and Indocid may help to relieve the pain and swelling that is the common result in arthritis symptoms, yet in the long-term can cause stomach problems due to the chemicals involved. Even the likes of Celebrex can cause cardiovascular issues, although it is better for the stomach than the other two methods.

Steroid medication causes a loss of potassium, but retention of sodium, while penicillamine, often used to treat RA, causes a lack of copper. Gout, the only form of arthritis scientifically shown to have a direct link to diet, is often treated with colchicine, which can cause a loss of vitamin B12. One long-term effect of steroid use is osteoporosis. To prevent this and other problems, steroids such as cortisone can be injected into the painful joint.

If you are receiving any kind of suppressive drugs, such as Matrex or anti-malarial medication, you will need to be closely watched as these can have serious side effects, whether the drugs are administered orally or via injection.

Doctors recommend surgery when drugs fail to work, or the side effects are too serious. Knee and hip replacements have become very common since the success rate is about 95%, and most patients become pain-free. Replaced joint can last for up to fifteen years and when they start to give trouble can be replaced. However, there are a few cases of unsuccessful operations and the artificial joint has to be removed. Their condition becomes worse than before.

Since there are various types of surgery available, from the simplest bone shard removal to releasing trapped nerves, arthritis can be a treatable malaise. However, due to the after-effects that can happen, be sure to speak to your physician first.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

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