Arthritis,Arthritis Treatment,Rheumatoid Arthritis

The most common arthritis drugs are

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Actonel Weekly - Risedronate. Although our bones seem solid and stable, they actually undergo constant renewal. Specialized cells called osteoclasts draw used calcium out of the bones while other cells called osteoblasts replace it. Especially after menopause, this process can get out of balance. Calcium starts to leach out of the bones faster than it can be replaced, leading to the brittle-bone disease called osteoporosis. Actonel combats this problem by reducing the activity of the osteoclasts and slowing the loss of calcium from the bones. It is prescribed for postmenopausal women, both to prevent osteoporosis and to strengthen the bones once the disease has begun. It is also used to prevent or treat osteoporosis resulting from therapy with steroid medications, and it is used in the treatment of Paget's disease, a condition in which patches of bone become softened and enlarged.

Fosamax - Alendronate Sodium. Fosamax is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of arthritis and osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease, in postmenopausal women. It is also used to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis, and is prescribed for both men and women who have developed a form of osteoporosis sometimes caused by steroid medications such as prednisone. This drug can also be used to relieve Paget's disease of bone, a painful condition that weakens and deforms the bones.

Celebrex - Celecoxib. Celebrex is prescribed for acute pain, menstrual cramps, and the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is the first of a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) called "COX-2 inhibitors." Like older NSAIDs such as Motrin and Naprosyn, Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike the older medications, however, Celebrex does not interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective effect on the lining of the stomach. Celebrex is therefore less likely to cause the bleeding and ulcers that sometimes accompany sustained use of the older NSAIDs. Celebrex has also been found to reduce the number of colorectal polyps (growths in the wall of the lower intestine and rectum) in people who suffer from the condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an inherited tendency to develop large numbers of colorectal polyps that eventually become cancerous.

Evista - Raloxifene Hydrochloride. Evista is prescribed to treat and prevent osteoporosis, the brittle-bone disease that strikes some women after menopause. A variety of factors promote osteoporosis. The more factors that apply to you, the greater your chances of developing the disease.

Mobic - Movalis - Meloxicam. Mobic is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in prescription form. It is used to relieve the pain and stiffness of arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Arthritis is a collective term for a number of conditions in which damage is caused to the joints. It is a major cause of disability in the elderly population.

Each different form of arthritis has a different cause. Psoriatic arthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are kinds of autoimmune disease, which means that the body has somehow been deceived into attacking its own tissue. Join infection can cause what is known as Septic arthritis. Gouty arthritis is the name used to describe the buildup of uric acid crystals in a joint, which cause significant pain and inflammation. There is also another form of gout called ‘pseudogout’, which is caused by the formation of calcium pyrophosphate crystals.

Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis, and is also known sometimes as degenerative joint disease. It is caused by trauma to the joint, either after an infection or simply because the body has become old and fragile. Those with abnormal physical conditions may be predisposed to the early onset of osteoarthritis.

A key symptom of arthritis is pain. The type and frequency of this pain can change depending on the type and location of the arthritis, but pain is present in most cases to a greater or lesser extent. The pain of osteoarthritis for example is typically worse at night or following extended periods of sedentary rest. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be more painful in the mornings. One giveaway symptom of arthritis in children or the elderly, is that they just avoid moving, or moving the effected limbs, whenever possible.

The history of pain in a case of arthritis can be key to diagnosing the situation. Your healthcare provider will want to know when the pain began, which joints are painful, for how long, what tends to make it worse and what better. A physical examination is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of arthritis. More complex or serious cases may also involve the use of radiographs, blood tests or x-rays of the effected joints for diagnostic purposes.

Osteoarthritis, or Osteoarthrosis (OA), sometimes known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, is a condition in which inflammation causes joints to become painful. The inflammation causes the cartilage that acts as a cushion inside the joints to become worn, and the effected bone surfaces are subjected to increased pressure and collision, often a grinding sensation. An osteoarthritis sufferer may experience pain when walking or standing, due to the pressure being exerted on the effected joints. They will probably tend to move less often as a result, which can cause muscles to atrophy and ligaments to slacken.

In the US, osteoarthritis accounts for 25% of all visits to doctors, and half of all prescriptions for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). It affects around 20 million people in that one country alone, and evidence suggests that some 80% of people will have some signs of the disease by the age of 65.

There is no cure for osteoarthritis, as cartilage cannot yet be made to regenerate, but possible treatment options include NSAIDS, hyaluronan or glucocorticoid, or in some cases joint replacement surgery may be needed. It is possible that in the future, cartilage regeneration using tissue-engineering technology may be possible and preferential in the treatment of arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which is both chronic and inflammatory, and affects many joints. Common symptoms which may distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis include inflammation, the swelling of soft tissues and the simultaneous involvement of multiple joints. Joints will usually be infected asymmetrically in the early stages of the disease, and then progressing symmetrically. Using the afflicted joints, though painful, can usually improve both long-term pain and motility. Rheumatoid arthritis is generally worse when joints have been inactive for many hours, for example first thing in the morning. This is in contrast to osteoarthritis, which will generally become more painful as the day goes on.

Most often, the onset of osteoarthritis is irreversible, and treatment typically involves pain management and other medication to improve the motility of the joint. As has been mentioned, joint replacement surgery is another viable option for serious cases. The application of heat to the affected area can help to reduce swelling and improve blood flow in the area, which has a beneficial effect.

Often a mild pain relief drug can be enough to ease the symptoms of arthritis. Acetaminophen (paracetamol/tylenol) is often used to treat pain, though it does not have the same inflammtion-reducing properties as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDS can reduce both pain and inflammation, at greater risk of side-effects, particularly involving the gastrointestinal system. Peptic ulcers are a common side effect of prolonged NSAID usage.

Sometimes, steroids are prescribed to treat the symptoms of arthritis, though some medical professionals do not believe that the benefits of steroids in this particular case are enough to outweigh the risks of their use.

In the case of sever pain involving arthritis, a narcotic pain reliever may be employed, such a tramadol or morphine. But these should be reserved only for extreme cases of acute pain.

Some NSAIDS are available in topical form, for example a gel or ointment that can be applied directly to the site of the pain, and may bypass possible side-effects of these drugs.

Severe joint pain can also be treated with targeted injections of anaesthetics, such as lidocaine.

If all attempts at pain management are unsuccessful, joint replacement surgery is a viable option, and many patients experience significant relief as a result of this procedure.

Arthritis