Arthritis...which treatment and tests. Please see details below.?!
Question:
Arthritis...which treatment and tests. Please see details below.?
My wife is 30. 6/7 years ago she developed moderate short & large joint pains which spontaneously resolved. Now about to months ago she complained of mild pain in her left knee and we though it was due to trauma. But for the last two weeks the knee has effusion++, unbearabel ache and ultra-sound and Depo-medrol 40 & daily dicofenac slow release 75 did not provide sustained relief. the pathology has now moved fast...right knee affected, follwed by right elbow and now left elbow. Pians like cervical spondolysis. I have today consulted three doctors --- two
have prescribed auto-immune tests like ANF, CCP, various DNA tests and a cocktail drug of acenofelac 100, paracetamol 500 & serradiopeptidase BD but the one who had given one dose of Depo medrol 40 has advised not to do any tests but just give her Depomedrol 80 today and on the 3rd of July alongwith diclofenac being constant. The former two feel steroids may mask the disease. Please advise.
Answers:
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, and limited movement.Arthritis literally means joint inflammation. Treatments for rheumatic diseases include rest and relaxation, exercise, proper diet, medication, and instruction about the proper use of joints and ways to conserve energy.
Exercises that doctors often recommend include:
Range-of-motion exercises (e.g., stretching, dance) to help maintain normal joint movement, maintain or increase flexibility, and relieve stiffness.
Strengthening exercises (e.g., weight lifting) to maintain or increase muscle strength. Strong muscles help support and protect joints affected by arthritis. Aerobic or endurance exercises (e.g., walking, bicycle riding) to improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall well-being. Studies show that aerobic exercise can also reduce inflammation in some joints.
Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) are used to reduce the pain caused by many rheumatic conditions. NSAIDs have the added benefit of decreasing the inflammation associated with arthritis.