Arthritis Knee Pain Treatment

Last Updated on Sunday, 23 October 2011 03:23 Written by admin Sunday, 23 October 2011 03:23

One of the most prevalent conditions affecting countless people across all ages is arthritis knee pain � in particular, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Osteoarthritis (OA). In spite of all discoveries in modern medicine, there is presently no specific cure for all types of arthritis knee pain.

Even though there are specific physical exercises and physical therapy programs meant to alleviate pain to a certain extent, the results depend mainly on the degree of pain and the stage of arthritis afflicting the patient, among a number of other factors.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A quite common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which at the onset shows stiff or sore joints in the feet, elbows, hands, and knees. Often, the stiffness will begin in both sides. Eventually, the RA sufferer will experience fatigue and flu, along with aches and pains as well as inflammation of the joint.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

In contrast, if pain is experienced in any joint immediately after a repetitive action, the condition is probably another common form of arthritis known as Osteoarthritis or OA. For instance, a professional athlete may at some point experience pain in his/her knee without any apparent reason. X-rays may show any knee cartilage problems, which may weaken the joints and inhibit them from sticking together.

Osteoarthritis (OA) frequently afflicts the hips, back, neck, and fingers. Misshapen or swollen fingers are indicative of OA. In serious cases, OA patients may find it nearly impossible to do even simple actions such as standing up, walking, or sitting down. In such situations, hip replacement surgery may be the best treatment option.

There are a number of risk factors for OA. Females are more susceptible to OA compared to males. Additionally, obesity, age, and stress are also believed to play a role.

Arthritis Knee Pain Treatment

A well-known method in arthritis treatment is knee braces, either custom-made or off-the-shelf. Off-the-shelf knee braces are those that fit your knees, whereas custom-made knee braces are more expensive and devised to fit not only your knee but your specific condition as well.

Although prescription meds may control pain, they are rarely able to get rid of it completely. But new remedies are available to control chronic pain due to arthritis. In addition to standard medications, physicians can prescribe creams and salves for oral application. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly the first choice for a majority of physicians. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are usually given biologics or anti-rheumatic medications, which can be injected at regular intervals to improve the patient�s normal functioning.

Another approach that has been known to prevent the profession of the disease is performing regular knee exercises, including cycling, walking, and swimming. Regular knee exercises may help restore or improve joint function. Such knee exercises need not be rigorous, given that even basic steps can improve the joints. Strenuous exercises that can can cause further damage to your joints must be strictly avoided.

In chronic cases, chemotherapy and knee surgery may be the best option. Alternative treatment techniques including magnetic pulse therapy and acupuncture have also gained popularity at present, given the the many consumers who attest to their effectiveness.

To sum it up, if you opt to try standard or alternative therapies for arthritis knee pain, you�re strongly advised to seek advice from your physician before everything else.

To grab your copy of the Free Arthritis Relief Guide, and to read more articles related to click here to visit this website on arthritis.