Joint pain is a common condition that many people suffer from, especially the aged. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of joint pains that have been troubling many with its symptoms. With changing times, increased availability of treatments and medications has improved the situation. You have plenty of options to choose from that reduces your pain significantly, if not completely. However, before you take any medication it’s better you consult your doctor. It’s equally important to have the medicines as per the directions such as, avoiding alcoholic drinks, narcotics or consuming any anti-inflammatory drugs.
While many of the arthritis patients get relief from the persistent pain by modifying their daily diet and using multiple joint pain products, and by adding exercise into their regular routine, there are some patients like the ones suffering from pain due to excessive weight or obesity can get relief by losing at least 10% of their weight to improve function. So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the joint pain medicines that are available for arthritis pain management. Ibuprofen or naproxen sodium is some of the over-the-counter (OTC) pain killers that are easily available and affordable. The acetaminophen in these medicines is known to provide relief from mild and modest joint pain that often leads to osteoarthritis.
It’s important to consume the medicines or the joint pain products as per the instructions to avoid any side effects. NSAIDs are known to provide relief from swelling and inflammation related pains, however as OTC medicines NSAIDs are not so effectual when it’s about reducing inflammation with higher doses as per prescription. NSAIDs, on the flip side can raise the risk of medical conditions like, hypertension, heart attack, kidney diseases, and more. You can also buy the other OTC medications like, supplements and creams that can help ease pain due to arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin are some of the common and well-known medicines used to relieve pain from osteoarthritis. These drugs are not known to impart any major side effects, however, the fact that they are not approved by FDA as other medicines make them a risky choice.
Moreover, you can ask your doctor for prescribed NSAIDs for the treatment of inflammation and arthritis pain. You can buy some of these over the counter that are simply stronger forms of NSAIDs. These medicines can also be available in different forms like, topical and injectable varieties. Just as the OTC NSAIDs, these medications when used for a longer period can lead to severe medical conditions like, kidney disease, internal bleeding, heart attack, and more. Codeine is a narcotic medicine that is prescribed at times as an alternative to NSAIDs. In extreme conditions and when no other OTC medicines or narcotics work, prescribed steroids and Cymbalta can be considered as a treatment for joint pains.
Therefore, if you are suffering from mild to serious conditions like, osteoarthritis, you can look for these medicines or joint pain products as treatments options, albeit as per doctor’s recommendations.