The other type include capsaicin gels (although these can only be bought on prescription) that can take up to a week to have an effect. 'The first are anti-inflammatory creams and gels, such as Voltarol emulgel and Nurofen gel, which need daily reapplying. 'These divide into two types,' says Professor Conaghan. 'You will often need to take stomach protecting drugs called proton-pump inhibitors as well because otherwise the side-effects can be very serious, such as gastric ulcers and high blood pressure.' Creams and gels ' Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help reduce the swelling around joints and are often the first line of treatment for osteoarthritis,' says Jo Cumming. 'Make sure not to take these in combination with the prescribed medication and if you're taking them regularly, you should discuss it with your GP.' But you have to watch out for stomach upsets, such as burning or bloating, and watch bowel movements because they can cause bleeding,' says Professor Conaghan.
'Oral anti-inflammatories, such as low dose ibuprofen, can be very effective. 'It can be useful to think about when to take them to be most effective, such as when you are going to go to the shops or going for a walk,' he says. 'You can take around six, 500mg paracetamol painkillers per day which can give good relief to arthritis pain,' says Professor Conaghan. 'If you're taking it a lot then you should talk with your GP, and certainly if you take anything stronger – probably containing codeine – then you should discuss it with your doctor.' ' Paracetamol is well tried and tested, although it doesn't work for everyone,' says Jo Cumming.
You can see some great tailored exercises at Arthritis Research UK here.
CAPSAICIN CREAM FOR ARTHRITIS TRIAL
'There's lots of good trial evidence, especially regarding the benefit to knees, so it can be very useful to see a physiotherapist to give you the correct exercise.' 'Muscle strengthening is great for arthritis, especially the quad (thigh muscles) and the forearm,' says Philip Conaghan, professor of musculoskeletal medicine, University of Leeds, and spokesperson for Arthritis Research UK. Things like Tai Chi, Pilates and yoga are good gentle exercises that get the joints moving, as well as helping with pain, mood and overall wellbeing.' 'The key is to get the right advice because you can do more damage than good if you overdo it – people with arthritis will have fragile joints. ' Exercise is the biggest help for all forms of arthritis,' says Jo Cumming, helpline manager for charity Arthritis Care. While there's no cure for the condition, there's plenty you can do day-to-day to manage the condition. There are two main types: rheumatoid arthritis – an inflammatory disease – and osteoarthritis, the most common form, which develops gradually affecting mainly the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine. It can be a debilitating disease, causing difficulty in movement and making people with arthritis less active. We look at some of the key treatments for joint pain and inflammation and ask the experts what really works?Īrthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK, causing pain and inflammation of the joints, bones and muscles. But, are they going to help or are they simply a waste of money? You can now buy hundreds of over-the-counter remedies that claim to ease the pain of arthritis.
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