Pain Management in Arthritis

Arthritis is an illness that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints of the body. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis affecting one or more joints of the body, and it can affect the muscles and other organs too.

Whatever the cause or the target organ, pain is the most common feature of arthritis. Pain is also the primary symptom of many other illnesses and hence pain relief is the basic and essential part of treatment. Joint pain relief in arthritis has a significant impact on the daily activities of the patient and improves the overall quality of life.

Arthritis pain can be acute or chronic, and most forms of arthritis reach a chronic form in the course of the disease. The pain affects the overall health, limits body movement and can be very distressing. At times, pain relief becomes the main concern for the patient rather than the disease control.

Pain management plays an important role in breaking the vicious cycle of pain, stress and depression. Pain relief helps increase the mobility and bone strength by reducing discomfort in the joints. However, all forms of pain must be treated under strict medical supervision. The pain killers broadly prescribed for chronic pain relief are plain analgesics or NSAID's ( Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). In severe cases, steroids are administered under specialty physician care which provide temporary relief from arthritis symptoms.

Although analgesics help in pain relief, it is important to note that they do not control the disease. Painkillers, as per the category they fall into, provide pain relief, reduce inflammation and some also act upon symptoms like fever, bodyache etc. Thus, the selection of an ideal pain killer varies from person to person and depends upon the degree of joint inflammation too.

In the absence of swelling, and if 'pain' is the only presenting symptom, an analgesic like tramadol or paracetamol can be safely used. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for example; ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, indomethacin which come under different brand names worldwide, relieve pain by reducing inflammation. COX-2 inhibitors can be prescribed for individuals with arthritis and are less likely to have the gastrointestinal side effects, sometimes produced by NSAIDs.

Analgesics have some common side effects like hyperacidity, abdominal pain, stomach ulcers and bleeding tendencies. In some cases, there can be swelling in the feet, hypertension, allergic rashes and many more adverse effects. It is necessary to educate the patients and proper counseling about the use of medicines is essential. This is important in order to attain a proper balance between the effects and side-effects of medicine. Symptomatic relief is important, but exact diagnosis and treating the disease is more important. An additional treatment comprising medicines, nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes are advisable for an overall arthritis control and well-being of the said individual.