Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Over 40 million individuals in the United States are diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Over half of Americans 65 and older have osteoarthritis in at least one joint. According to current research, by 2030 approximately 70 million Americans will be at risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Over 1 million hip and knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.  Researcher Sunny Kim, PhD states that 600,000 hip replacements and 1.4 million knee replacements could be performed in the year 2015 if current trends persist.

Medications

• Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can relieve pain, but doesn’t reduce inflammation. It has been shown to be effective for people with osteoarthritis who have mild to moderate pain. Taking more than the recommended dosage of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others). Stronger NSAIDs are available by prescription. NSAIDs can cause stomach upset, ringing in your ears, cardiovascular problems, bleeding problems, and liver and kidney damage. Older people are at highest risk of complications.

NSAIDs that can be purchased over-the-counter include:

The following NSAIDs can only be gotten with a doctor’s prescription:

• Narcotics. These types of prescription medication typically contain ingredients similar to codeine and may provide relief from more severe osteoarthritis pain. These stronger medications carry a risk of dependence, though that risk is thought to be small in people who have severe pain. Side effects may include nausea, constipation and sleepiness.