Arthritis Treatments

More than half a million Kiwis live with some form of arthritis, including one in three over the age of 45. So how do you treat it? 

As yet, there is no known cure so the treatments available focus on trying to reduce the symptoms and increase movement in the affected area. Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis you have.

Last year, research on a potential new treatment for osteo-arthritis involving stem-cell-based injections by the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego and Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California found that a molecule, called kartogenin, encourages damaged cartilage to regenerate. There is lots of work to be done yet, but researchers are hopeful that kartogenin could in time offer a radical, new kind of therapy that could make a big difference to people's lives.

Right now, the only drug available to arthritis sufferers in injection form is the class of Corticosteroids, including prednisone and cortisone, which can be taken orally as well as injected directly into a painful joint. These reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. 

Other common arthritis medications include:

• Pain medications or Analgesics like acetaminophen, tramadol and narcotics containing oxycodone or hydrocodone.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce both pain and inflammation are available in oral form or as a cream or gel that can be rubbed on. Some of these are available over-the-counter like Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), others only on prescription. 

• Counter-irritants. Some varieties of creams and ointments contain menthol or capsaicin, the ingredient that makes hot peppers spicy. Rubbing these preparations on the skin over your aching joint may interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.

• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate (Trexall) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) are often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis by helping to slow or stop your immune system from attacking your joints. 

• Biologic Response Modifiers. Typically used in conjunction with the above, these genetically engineered drugs target protein molecules involved in the immune response. Examples include etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade).*(source: Mayo Clinic)

Exercise and Physical Therapy

Physical therapy covers not just exercise but physical supports like splints and braces that can help support movement. Exercises can improve the range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints for some types of arthritis. 

Surgery

In severe cases, surgery may be recommended. Right now, the two options are joint replacement or joint fusion. 

Joint replacement literally involves removing the damaged joint, most typically hips and knees, and replacing it with an artificial one. 

Joint Fusion is mostly used on smaller joints, such as those in the wrist, ankle and fingers and involves removing the ends of the two bones in the joint  so they can lock together to form one rigid unit.