Contrary to popular belief, arthritis is not just one disease. It is actually a complex disorder, comprising more than a hundred different conditions. It can affect any person at any stage of his life, whether he is generally healthy or suffering from some other form of degenerative disorder.

The most common forms of this disorder are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, each having very different causes, risk factors, and effects on the body, but the same common symptom: persistent pain in the joints.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative arthritis, is a condition where pain occurs in the joints due to low grade inflammation. The cause is normally attributed to the wearing and tearing of the cartilage (hence it’s more colloquial name “wear and tear”). The cartilage is that piece of tissue that covers and acts as a cushion inside joints. As the cartilage wears down, the bone surfaces between joints become less well protected, resulting in pain on the patient, particularly upon weight bearing, such as walking and standing.

To avoid the pain, a patient may decrease his movements. However, this (the decreased movements) may indirectly result in certain conditions of the regional muscles, such as atrophy and lax ligaments.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting nearly 21 million people in the United States. That accounts for 25% of visits to primary care physicians and half of an NSAID, or Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, prescriptions.

A Green 2001 health report has revealed that an estimated 80% of the population will have shown signs of osteoarthritis by age 65, evidenced by radiographic test. However, the same report said that only 60% will be symptomatic.

Because the primary problem with osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the cartilage, which cannot ever grow back, there is unfortunately no cure for the condition. Treatment consists of NSAIDs, local glucocorticoid injections, and in severe cases, with joint replacement surgery. The goal is not to cure the disorder, which is irreversible, but to reduce the joint pain, and in that regard, science has no shortage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The other form of arthritis, less common than OA, is rheumatoid arthritis or RA. It is a chronic, inflammatory auto immune disorder where the body’s own immune system attacks the joints. Because of pain and joint destruction as a result of this condition, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to substantial loss of mobility as well as affect many extra articular tissues of the body, such as the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles.

The treatment approach for this form of arthritis is different from OA. In osteoarthritis, the goal is to reduce the pain, in rheumatoid arthritis, there is actually a treatment that could halt disease progression.

There are two approaches: one is the disease modifying antirheumatic drugs or DMARDs, and anti inflammatory agents and analgesics. The former is responsible for producing durable remissions and delay or even halting the disease from progressing. The latter only treats the pain resulting from the disorder.

To determine what form of arthritis a patient suffers, X rays and blood tests are often performed on the affected joints. The type can be distinguished by the pace of the onset, the age and sex of the patient, the amount of joints affected, and additional symptoms like psoriasis, iridocyclitis, rheumatoid nodules, and Raynaud’s phenomenon – all of which can be shown through blood testing and X ray.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, approximately 43 million Americans suffer the painful symptoms of arthritis and rheumatoid conditions. The Center for Disease Care and Prevention (CDC) upped the numbers even more with an estimated 70 million people – that is, one out of three in the United States has arthritis.

There are hundreds of different kinds of arthritis but all of them have the same common symptoms: pain and stiffness of the joints, surrounding synovium and other connective tissues. In some cases, the pain can become so severe that moving is out of the question. And yet, new research shows that constant motion is one way of reducing the stiffness suffered by arthritic patients.

So how do you relieve the pain that comes with arthritis?

The most common treatment involves drugs, such as NSAIDs, BRMs, and DMARDs. Doctors have been prescribing over the counter drugs like analgesics as arthritis pain relievers for years. Alternatively, you could also try natural remedies as a newer method of alleviating pain. Below is a brief discussion of the different methods of relieving pain suffered by arthritic patients.

Arthritis Pain Reliever Medication

Divided into three broad categories, arthritis pain reliever medication can be Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), narcotic pain medications, and steroids. All three are easy to obtain with NSAIDs often sold over the counter. They are the most commonly prescribed arthritis pain relievers by doctors.

NSAIDs and its derivative, the COX-2 Inhibitor, work as arthritis pain relievers by inhibiting the production of the enzyme catalyst called cooxygenase. This enzyme is responsible for the release of prostaglandins, a substance that is directly involved when inflammation occurs around the joints. By interfering with the production of prostaglandins, NSAIDs, therefore, prevent inflammatory response and decrease pain suffered by patients with arthritis.

The effect of this arthritis pain reliever drug varies from individual to individual and depends on several different factors. That is why it is recommended that the patient take an active part in determining which drug suits him or her. The NSAID that can reduce the pain most effectively without causing any undesirable side effects should be the one chosen as arthritis pain reliever.

Natural Arthritis Pain Relievers

Natural arthritis pain relievers can offer a safe and natural solution for those who are hesitant to depend solely on over the counter pain relievers to ease the pain that comes with arthritis. These alternatives are sold in supplement forms and have been the subject of many studies that more or less prove their efficacy as arthritis pain relievers. These include:

* Glucosamine and chondroitin – Two naturally occurring substances that aid in joint repair and function. They can also slow disease progression, particularly with osteoarthritis.
* MSM – A natural compound with a sulfur base. This natural arthritis pain reliever acts as an anti inflammatory, helping reduce swelling and pain.
* SAMe – Reduces swelling and improves mobility.
* Boswellia – Herbal extract with natural anti inflammatory properties.
* Turmeric – A natural pain reliever.
All these can act as arthritis pain relievers, helping you cope with the painful symptoms of arthritis. However, while they can greatly reduce the pain, they should not be taken in as cures.