Types of arthritis treatment

While there is no cure for arthritis there are ways to treat a person's symptoms.  Treatment plans can include medication, therapy and possibly surgery.

Medications:

The type of medication prescribed to a patient will depend on his or her symptoms and type of arthritis.

According to the Mayo Clinic some of the most common medications used include: analgesics (reduce pain but not inflammation); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (reduce both pain and inflammation); counterirritants (ointments that can reduce pain); disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (slows your immune system from attacking your joints); biologics (target the immune response); corticosteroids (reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system).

Therapy

Physical therapy can help those who suffer from arthritis. In therapy sessions patients can work to improve their range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints.

Surgery

According to the Mayo Clinic surgery may be needed to perform a joint replacement or a joint fusion if other types of treatment aren't effective.