Fighting Arthritis (4 pg)

Are you experiencing pain, swelling or stiffness in or around a joint, perhaps in your hands, hips, knees or feet? If so, you should see your doctor. You may be one of the more than 52 million Americans who suffer from arthritis. More than 60 percent of arthritis sufferers in the U.S. are women.

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. The most common form of the disease is osteoarthritis. It occurs when the cartilage in the joints slowly breaks down over time. The less cartilage there is, the greater the pain.

Even though there is no known cure for osteoarthritis, your primary care physician can help you select the best combination of self-managed treatments and medications to help reduce and manage the pain.

Losing weight is a first step to managing osteoarthritis because it reduces the stress on joints such as the knee or hip. Resting a sore joint can be another early treatment. If these strategies don’t work, consider seeing a physical therapist, who can help you strengthen the muscles around the joint, increase your flexibility and reduce your pain.

Your physician may also prescribe a medication such as steroid anti-inflammatory drugs or stronger prescription painkillers for more severe cases. If none of these treatments are effective, talk to your doctor about whether joint replacement surgery might be a smart option.