When you say the word arthritis, most people are going to instantly think about the pain that is associated with arthritic conditions. There is no doubt that the pain that one experiences when you suffer from arthritis is impossible to ignore. Luckily for us, in the modern age, we have a wide array of options to deal with the pain and suffering that comes with living with arthritis.
Arthritis may manifest itself in two types of pain, from a duration perspective. If the pain is short lasting and goes away, it is known as acute pain. But if the pain lasts for longer periods of time it is known as chronic. One way to look at it is that acute pain is the body’s way of warning us of an injury. It is short lived and it’s effects are temporary, although uncomfortable. Chronic pain however is created by a different chemical pathway and can cause both physical and mental changes.
There are two major categories of arthritis when you look at it from a pain perspective. The first category involves arthritic conditions that can cause an inflammation that affects the joints , as well as other areas of the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a major example of this type of arthritic condition. Another prime example is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The second category is made of up of conditions that affect the joints with a lesser amount of inflammation. Osteoarthritis is a major condition within this second group.
The differences between these two groups can have a major impact when it is time to develop a strategy for the management of arthritis pain. With the first category of conditions, which focuses on the inflammatory response and it’s effects on the joints and body, the pain that accompanies inflammatory arthritis is best managed with drugs that will decrease the inflammation. But for osteoarthritis and the other types of arthritis that do not cause major inflammation in the joints, drugs that deal directly with the pain response may be a more effective pain management strategy.
In the treatment of arthritis, there are four major classes of drugs that are used to manage arthritis pain. The four classes of drugs used for pain management are: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as NSAIDs), pure analgesics, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. As we all know, the less number of medicines that we have to take, the better off we are. As you work with your physician, they may want to try one drug at a time in order to monitor the efficacy of the treatment. In some cases, a single drug from one of the four drug classes may alleviate acute pain. Unfortunately, when chronic pain is involved, it may require a combination of drugs from one or more of the drug categories.
Here are some common examples of the four classes of drugs used in the management of arthritis pain:
Pure Analgesics – Acetaminophen, Tramadol, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Fentanyl, Oxycodone
NSAIDs – Ibuprofen, Celecoxib, Ketoprofen, Aspirin, Oxaprozin, Etodolac
Antidepressants – Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Duloxetine, Milnacipran
Anitconvulsants – Gabapentin, Pregabalin
By understanding the basic types of drugs that are used in the management, hopefully you can help your physician to work up an appropriate and effective pain management plan. Modern medicine has created many different medicines that may be able to help you deal with the pain of arthritis.