Living with the pain that comes from having arthritis is extremely difficult. Day to day activities can become limited due to this pain and finding ways to help alleviate it is something that many arthritis patients are looking for. There are different arthritis therapy suggestions that can be reviewed to discover if these types of treatment would be an option for a patient.

Natural Healing

For some patients, the thought of taking medications for the rest of their lives due to their arthritis is almost as painful as the disorder itself. Natural medicine can be looked at as a form of arthritis therapy that could be used. Natural medicine can involve using herbs as a way to control the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. Visiting natural food stores or stores that sell vitamins and herbs can be an initial way to become familiar with this type of arthritis therapy.

There are many types of herbs that are used in teas to help combat arthritis. Some of the teas are especially made to incorporate several different herbs that will help with arthritis. Some of the herbs that are often used in these teas include black cohosh, licorice, red pepper, stinging nettle, wild cucumber bark and wild yam. All of these herbs are well reputed to help with the inflammation and pain that arthritis brings.

Another arthritis therapy that is considered natural is by using acupuncture. This ancient Chinese medicine uses very fine needles to open energy within the body to heal itself. Acupuncture has been known to help with the pain and ease inflammation caused by arthritis.

Conventional Treatment

The conventional form of arthritis therapy includes seeing a physician and planning out a treatment plan. Often steroids are used to combat the inflammation, and this in turn causes the pain to recede. Steroids do work very well; unfortunately long term steroid use comes with side effects that can be extreme.

Physicians will often prescribe steroids in the form of oral medication and also patients can receive steroid shots in specific joints that are swollen and painful. Again, most patients do get pain relief and the inflammation often recedes. Some side effects from steroid use include bruising easily, weight gain, mood swings, elevated blood pressure and fluid retention.

Depending on the type of arthritis a patient has, other medications may be recommended. For many patients this type of treatment has restored them to almost pre-arthritis condition and their lives are kept in balance thanks to these medications.

Determining which type of arthritis therapy you want to pursue is a big decision. Make sure to always speak with a physician when considering changing medications or adding natural remedies.