Arthritis in knees
Some of these include the new drug Arava and methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, penicillamine, and gold injections. arthritis in knees Leg-muscle-pain. These drugs are thought to influence and correct abnormalities of the immune system responsible for a disease like rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment with these medications requires careful monitoring by the physician to avoid side effects. Corticosteroids--These are hormones that are very effective in treating arthritis but cause many side effects. arthritis in knees Causing abdominal pain. Corticosteroids can be taken by mouth or given by injection. Prednisone is the corticosteroid most often given by mouth to reduce the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. In both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the doctor also may inject a corticosteroid into the affected joint to stop pain. arthritis in knees Heart pain. Because frequent injections may cause damage to the cartilage, they should be done only once or twice a year. Other products--Hyaluronic acid products like Hyalgan and Synvisc mimic a naturally occurring body substance that lubricates the knee joint and permits flexible joint movement without pain. A blood-filtering device called the Prosorba Column is used in some health care facilities for filtering out harmful antibodies in people with severe rheumatoid arthritis. Weight reduction--Excess pounds put extra stress on weight-bearing joints such as the knees or hips. Studies have shown that overweight women who lost an average of 11 pounds substantially reduced the development of osteoarthritis in their knees. In addition, if osteoarthritis has already affected one knee, weight reduction will reduce the chance of it occurring in the other knee. Exercise--Swimming, walking, low-impact aerobic exercise, and range-of-motion exercises may reduce joint pain and stiffness. In addition, stretching exercises are helpful. A physical therapist can help plan an exercise program that will give you the most benefit. ** The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse has a separate booklet on arthritis and exercise. Surgery--In select patients with arthritis, surgery may be necessary. The surgeon may perform an operation to remove the synovium (synovectomy), realign the joint (osteotomy), or in advanced cases replace the damaged joint with an artificial one (arthroplasty). Total joint replacement has provided not only dramatic relief from pain but also improvement in motion for many people with arthritis. What Alternative Therapies May Relieve Arthritis Pain?Many people seek other ways of treating their disease, such as special diets or supplements.
Arthritis in knees
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