From parade.com
Find out what works better, straight from a doctor
Arthritis isn't just painful. It’s disruptive and can get in the way of living life fully. Arthritis, which is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., can cause swelling, pain and stiffness. It can make simple actions like walking or typing difficult.
What can help take this type of pain away? As a rheumatologist explains here, there are some treatment options people seek out that truly can help, but there are two popular treatments he warns against.
2 Things You Should Never Do If You Have Arthritis, According to a Rheumatologist
Dr. Julius Birnbaum, MD, MHS, is an associate professor of rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and author of Living Well with Autoimmune Diseases: A Rheumatologist's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health. He hears from patients regularly about how the pain of arthritis is impacting their life.
Even though the pain can be debilitating, Dr. Birnbaum warns against using opioids to manage it. “In most cases, the use of opioid medications should not be the first-line medication used. Furthermore, opioid medications should not be used before conservative strategies are tried,” he says.
The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons has this stance as well. On their site, they explain that opioids do not provide long-term relief for arthritis. Additionally, people who take opioids and have joint replacement surgery are at an increased risk for complications after surgery, including infection, needing a second surgery and becoming dependent on opioids.
There is something else Dr. Birnbaum warns people with arthritis against. “During the treatment process, a physician might decide that corticosteroid injection into an affected joint is warranted. This is referred to as an ‘intra-articular’ joint injection. However, patients should avoid intra-articular injection of glucosamine,” he says. According to scientific research, there is insufficient evidence that injecting glucosamine (a natural compound found in cartilage) into the joint is beneficial.
What To Do Instead
What does Dr. Birnbaum recommend instead? He recommends exploring options that include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and exercise, such as tai-chi or yoga. “In many situations, there can be topical use of NSAIDs that can be applied to a few joints and does not carry the risk of systemic absorption,” Dr. Birnbaum says.
It’s important to talk to your doctor about which treatment method is the best fit for you. For example, Dr. Birnbaum says that NSAIDs can be beneficial for some people with arthritis, but people with kidney disease or bleeding disorders shouldn’t take them. He adds that duloxetine is another medication that can also be used, especially if there is a contraindication to NSAIDs.
Scientific research shows that gentle movement, like tai chi, is linked to reducing pain and improving physical functioning in people with knee arthritis. It’s also associated with lower rates of depression. Similarly, scientific research shows that yoga can help people with arthritis safely increase their level of physical activity and improve overall physical and mental health.
If you have obesity, Dr. Birnbaum says that weight loss can be a beneficial part of an arthritis treatment plan. Weight loss reduces the amount of stress put on joints and also increases physical function. Scientific research shows that obesity is associated with a faster profession of osteoarthritis compared to people at a healthy weight.
Treating arthritis doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all plan. It’s important to talk to your doctor about what treatment option is the best fit for you. But turning to opioids or an intra-articular injection of glucosamine as a first treatment option isn’t a good idea for anyone. An alternative treatment plan may take longer to work, but it will be safer and more successful long term.
https://parade.com/health/what-not-to-do-if-you-have-arthritis
No comments:
Post a Comment