What Should You Do for Arthritis Pain Relief Besides Regular Doctor Visits?

Part of your treatment program may include physiotherapy. A physiotherapist knows a lot about how the muscles and joints of your body work. Your physiotherapy treatment may include an individualized exercise program, hydrotherapy, heat treatment, appropriate splinting, advice on suitable footwear, instruction on the use of walking aids, education in the best ways to use your body and protect your joints, and how to balance your daily activities.

Occupational therapists are concerned with helping you to func­tion better and more independently in your daily activities. This may include various aids and devices and suggestions on how to adapt your home so you can do as much as possible for yourself with the least amount of strain on your joints.

Medication is often a cause of concern. Do remember that your local chemist is often a good source of information on how drugs work d can help you understand your doctor's instructions.

Surgery

There are times when a joint is so badly affected and causes so much pain that the only resort is to surgery. You have probably heard or know of people with artificial hips. It is certainly true that these have been a great success in restoring function and relieving the pain of a severely arthritic hip.

Surgery needs to be approached with caution and careful consideration. It is not always a success, although for many people it has given them a new lease of life. If you are thinking of surgery, then it's wise to consult more than one surgeon. Find someone well experienced in the type of operation you require. It is also a good idea to talk to someone who has had the operation you are considering.

Of course, not all arthritic conditions are suitable for surgery. In general, surgery is most useful when the problem is localised to one limit and is most successful for the larger joints such as the hip and knee. Joint replacement has been a great help to people with severe arthritis in the hip or knee. Other joints (shoulder, ankle, elbow, fingers) are being worked on and are becoming more successful.