Arthritis medication and treatments to suit the individual diagnosis

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and millions of people suffer from some variation of what can be a debilitating inflammatory disease.  However it is important that Arthritis medication and treatments suit the proper individual diagnosis.

Each form of arthritis has its own characteristics and treatments should be appropriate to the particular type of arthritis that a patient suffers from. Some forms of arthritis are hard to detect and if you are not getting results from your regular physician then you may need to consult a specialist rheumatologist.

Symptoms can include joint pain and joint swelling and increased stiffness. The symptoms are usually associated with elderly people however arthritis can attack us at any age.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease characterized by inflammation which affects the entire body and gets into a number of bone joints of the body concurrently. The inflammation mainly affects the lining of the joints called the synovial membrane, but can also affect other organs.

Osteoarthritis is a disease causing erosion of cartilage and the bone structure within a joint as well as causing bony growths. The gradual breakdown of these body tissues causes to painful joint stiffness.

Gout is another rheumatic disease resulting from deposition of uric acid crystals (monosodium urate) in tissues and fluids within the body. This process is caused by an overproduction or under excretion of uric acid.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies to cells within the body leading to widespread inflammation and tissue damage.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome predominately characterized by muscular pains and fatigue. A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points that occurs in precise, localized areas

another variation is arthritis in which the synovial membrane becomes inflamed. It’s associated with psoriasis, a skin disease. It can also affect the tendons where they attach to the bone.

Pain relief from some forms of arthritis can come from non prescription medication. However in may be short lived and consultation is recommended. New prescription drugs and medications can assist some people in some cases. Certain creams and gels can help some patients particularly with isolated joint pain. In some cases surgery is required. Many remedies include weight loss where appropriate, special diets and also physiotherapy, or all of the above.

In any case the best hope for your long term pain relief and quality of life starts with proper early diagnosis. So find a specialist rheumatologist here in our directory in a location near you.