If you have arthritis, the doctor may prescribe a medicine for you or tell you to use a medicine you buy without a prescription, like aspirin.

You may need to take more than one medicine. Correct treatment can ease the pain and help prevent more damage

The medications used to treat most forms of arthritis do not provide a cure, but rather limit the symptoms of the disease. They provide relief from pain and inflammation, and in some cases may slow the course of the disease and prevent further damage to joints or other parts of the body.

The doctor may delay using medications until a definite diagnosis is made because medications can hide important symptoms (such as fever and swelling) and thereby interfere with diagnosis.

Patients taking any medication, either prescription or over-the-counter, should always follow the doctor's instructions. The doctor should be notified immediately if the medicine is making the symptoms worse or causing other problems, such as an upset stomach, nausea, or headache. The doctor may be able to change the dosage or medicine to reduce these side effects.

In some cases, the doctor may also recommend use of a medical device in your treatment.

In advanced cases, surgery may be required to repair damage to a joint after injury or to restore function or relieve pain in a joint damaged by arthritis.

All information provided in this site is offered for educational purposes only, and it is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your own physician or healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.