Although there is no definitive cure offered by the medical profession for arthritis there is nonetheless a wide selection of treatments offered. How a person proceeds in his treatment will be a combination of what is suggested by their doctor and what they personally discover to be successful through research and results. As each individual is unique - so is the course of their disease and the treatments involved. What may work for one may not work for another. It has been said that it can require an open mind to explore different avenues of treatment, however, it is vital that one does so in the most responsible way possible.
The medical profession has a number of sophisticated medications that work to help mitigate the symptoms of arthritis in it’s many forms. They work to prevent further joint damage and help to keep the patient as mobile and pain free as possible. Some of these are as follows:
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs that are most commonly prescribed for arthritis. There is a wide and varied selection that can include common aides such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen amongst others that work to relieve pain - analgesics - and fever - antipyretic. Because nearly every drug carries with it the possibility of side affects, sometimes severely so, it is important to discuss your options with your doctor before choosing one.
Cortocosteroids are drugs that are closely connected to cortisol which is a hormone produced in the body’s adrenal cortex. They work to block the production of substances that trigger allergic or inflammatory responses in the body thus helping to reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis. But one of the unfortunate side effects is that they also reduce the function of white blood cells which are a vital part of our immune system. This opens the patient up to the increased susceptibility of infection. Used in proper balance they have brought great relief to many people.
Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs that slow down the disease process by modifying the immune system in some manner. They are slower acting and although effective in many ways are not used on the front line of treatment. As with the other treatments there is concern over side effects. Constant monitoring and blood tests keep a watch on their effectiveness and the side effects. Gold, Penicillamine and Plaquenil are amongst this group.
Biologic drugs which are referred to as biologic response modifiers help stimulate the body’s immune system to put up a better fight against infections and diseases. These medicines are compounds that are made by living cells. These include such well known names as interferon and interleukin-2.
These examples give a simple over view of the types of drugs and the approach medicine takes in treating arthritis. The goal is to mitigate the painful symptoms while trying to stimulate the body’s natural healing ability to fight off further infection or inflammation that would worsen the disease. Of course, it is always recommended that when committing to any course of treatment that the patient take the necessary time to investigate the pros and cons of their choice.
