Arthritis has many forms, but they all have things in common. Inflammation occurs in various joints in your body, particularly in those you move frequently such as your wrists, feet, knees and your spine. The inflammation can lead to pain, especially as you get older if you suffer from certain kinds of arthritis. There are many medications to help treat the symptoms of arthritis, but no cure.
Osteoarthritis
The Mayo Clinic states that osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs generally as you get older because the constant movement of the joints in your lower back, hands, neck, hips and knees wears down the tissues such as cartilage that connect your bones. As the cartilage deteriorates, your bones come in direct contact with each other, rub together and can cause a lot of pain. Researchers only have educated guesses about what causes the problem, the Mayo Clinic notes. There are many medications, both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription-level drugs, used for varying degrees of pain. Typically such medications as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are used. These include OTC ibuprofen and naproxen sodium as well as the prescription celecoxib.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis may have similar symptoms as osteoarthritis---pain and inflammation---but the causes are different. This form of the disease occurs when tissues in your body, specifically your joints, are attacked by your immune system. It is characterized by swelling that is painful in your joints---particularly in your feet and hands---that can deform your joints and wear down your bones. The disease also may cause other problems in your body such as fatigue and fevers. It is much more common in women---primarily between ages 40 to 60---than in men. Along with NSAIDs, other drugs such as steroids, DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) and drugs that suppress your immune system can be used in treatment.
Gout
Gout, too, is an inflammation in your joints. It occurs when you have an excess of uric acid in your body that crystallizes in your joints, primarily in your feet. Although most people get acute gout attacks in the big toe---characterized by extreme pain, warmth, tenderness and redness---gout can also affect other joints such as the heel and top part of the foot. Unlike other forms of arthritis in which the pain may be continual, gout tends to flare up suddenly, then recede and vanish. Typically, treatments include preventative medications such as allopurinol, colchicine and febuxostate, and the NSAID indomethacin to relieve inflammation and pain during an attack. Colchicine also may be used during an attack.
