Dealing with arthritis pain is something no one wants to face, but the fact is many people will have to cope with this condition at some point in life. How bad it is or how difficult it is to deal with arthritis pain will likely be dictated by the form present and its severity. There are some general things people can do to manage the pain regardless the form present.

Many doctors who treat arthritis pain do so with a mind toward preventing any permanent complications such as joint deformities. Using a combination of anti-inflammatory measures and painkillers can be effective for some, but others might find the prospect leaves them feeling as bad or worse than they did to begin with. Many doctors will prefer to start out very small in their recommendations for dealing with pain and work up, as necessary, to stronger treatments.

With this in mind, let's look at some of the alternatives to handling arthritis pain that aren't necessarily as harsh as strong anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers. It is important, however, to remember that nothing replaces solid medical advice. It is vital for determining the type of arthritis present and what potential effects it might have.

The major goals of any plan for dealing with arthritis pain are similar. They include pain removal or at least reduction, a lessening of the swelling, which also helps with the pain, slowing or stopping permanent damage and maintaining a quality of life.

Treatments that can be beneficial for arthritis pain sufferers to consider include:

Over the counter medications. These are sometimes not as harsh as prescribed drugs for dealing with arthritis pain. It's still important to check with a doctor, but often if these non-prescribed medications do the trick, they are the advised route to go.

Exercise. This might sound silly to recommend to someone dealing with arthritis pain, but one of the best ways to keep the joints working is simply to work them. Even if it's an exercise as simple and low impact as tai chi, movement can be very important to coping with the pain and preventing it from getting worse.

Swimming/hot tub therapy. Many people who deal with arthritis pain daily say that water therapy can really help lessen pain. By taking some of the stress off joints, this type of therapy allows for easier movement and exercise and can help increase range of movement.

Coping devices. Simple implements for use around the house and especially in the kitchen can help people deal with arthritis pain by enabling them to still enjoy their daily routines. For example, special can openers, mixers and so on can help hands function as they should without putting too much strain on sore joints.

Meditation. Many people who suffer from arthritis pain say the best way to deal with it is to face it head on with a mind-over-matter approach. Meditation can often help if this route is one that's chosen.

Dealing with arthritis pain is not something anyone wants to have to do, but it's a fact many will face this disease at some point during their lives. The best method for dealing with the stress of arthritis pain is to start out small with medications and exercise and only move up to stronger measures if or when they are necessary.