In osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative disease that affects the whole joint, the protective cartilage and fluid break down over time, making joint movement difficult and painful. Eventually, bones of the joint may rub directly against one another, causing severe pain.
Pain from arthritis can be constant or it may come and go. It may occur when at rest or while moving.
Self-care: Lose weight, if needed; switch from high-impact activities, like running, to low-impact ones, like walking or swimming; avoid movements, like lunges and squats, that could make the condition worse. Apply ice or heat for pain, and talk to a doctor about taking NSAIDs.
Be Active and Adjust the Diet
One of the best (and hardest) ways to manage arthritis pain is to manage one's body weight and adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Activities like walking and aerobics can keep the joints limber and prevent arthritis pain from becoming worse.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be one of the most painful types of arthritis; it affects joints as well as other surrounding tissues, including organs. This inflammatory, autoimmune disease attacks healthy cells by mistake, causing painful swelling in the joints, like hands, wrists and knees.
Pain is chronic when it lasts three to six months or longer, but arthritis pain can last a lifetime. It may be constant, or it may come and go. Chronic pain can make it hard to perform daily activities like cleaning the house, dressing or looking after your kids.
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling. The problem is that some of those enzymes also help blood to clot and protect the lining of your stomach.
About 1 in 5 US adults with arthritis has symptoms of anxiety or depression. These symptoms are more common in adults with arthritis who are women, younger, identify as LGBT+, have chronic pain or other co-occurring chronic conditions, or are disabled, unemployed, or otherwise unable to work.
Research shows diclofenac is the strongest and most effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine available.10 Diclofenec is sold under the prescription brand names Cambia, Cataflam, Zipsor, and Zorvolex. It is also available as a topical gel, Voltaren, which is available over the counter.
Physical Activity
Walking, biking, swimming, and other water activities (e.g., water aerobics, aqua jogging) are all effective ways to ease arthritis pain and are safe for most adults. Learn more about physical activity for arthritis.
1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.
If the pain continues getting worse or the symptoms don't respond to your efforts to relieve them with ice, heat or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen, that's a red flag that your disease may be worsening and you and your doctor may need to adjust your treatment plan and medication, she says.
Doctors do not fully understand why arthritis pain often worsens at night, but possible causes involve changes in the levels of hormones and cytokines, which are cell-signaling proteins, in the body. Daytime arthritis medication, which some people take during the morning, may also wear off by the evening.
Health Care Providers: Improving Your Arthritis Patients' Health. Counsel for low-impact physical activities—Walking, biking, swimming, and water activities are all good non-drug ways to ease arthritis pain and are safe for most adults. These forms of exercise can also improve joint function and improve mood.
Most forms of arthritis are thought to be caused by a fault in the immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues in the joints. This may be inherited genetically. Other forms of arthritis can be caused by problems with the immune system or by a metabolic condition, such as gout.
Extra weight puts a lot of pressure on the hips and knees, which causes the cartilage in your joints to deteriorate quickly. Specifically, research shows a heightened rate of OA progression in obese people⁴ as compared to people with healthy weights.
Vitamins D and K are both important for bone strength, and vitamin K is involved in cartilage structure. Supplementing these two nutrients may be helpful if you're deficient in them. When you take supplements as directed and under your doctor's supervision, they're generally safe.
To prevent osteoarthritis flare-ups, take care to ensure you don't overwork an arthritic joint. And if you do experience a flare-up, you can help relieve your symptoms by using a warming pad or warm compress, taking over-the-counter pain relievers or just giving the joint some rest.
Ibuprofen:"Ibuprofen can also be used for treatment of joint pain or osteoarthritis, and it's generally seen as safer than paracetamol," Dr Ralph Rogers, London Sports Injury Clinic.
Besides ibuprofen and naproxen, other examples of prescription NSAIDs include diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac, meloxicam (Mobic), oxaprozin (Daypro), and piroxicam (Feldene).
Conclusion: Paracetamol is an effective agent for pain relief due to OA. Although safer, it is less effective than NSAIDs. For safety reasons paracetamol should be the first line treatment, with NSAIDs reserved for those who do not respond.