Beyond Aches
Finding relief for joint pain and arthritis
Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick
We depend on our joints for every movement—from tasks like sewing or writing that require nimble fingers to activities such as reaching and running that put in motion our hips and shoulders.
When these body parts—which are vital to our stability and mobility—feel stiff or sore, it’s often due to arthritis, a broad term encompassing both inflammatory and noninflammatory joint pain. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of noninflammatory joint pain. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and gouty arthritis are all types of inflammatory arthritis.
No matter what kind of arthritis one has, help is required to manage pain and other symptoms. Benedict Chou, MD, is board-certified in rheumatology and internal medicine and a member of Torrance Memorial Physician Network. His approach to diagnosing the various types of arthritis starts with listening.
“We ask the patient to describe their symptoms. What joints are affected? Are joints the only part of the body affected? These are important characteristics to differentiate between inflammatory and noninflammatory joint pain,” Dr. Chou says. “The nature of the pain might not be straightforward, so we collaborate with other doctors including the primary care physician and orthopedic surgeons."
Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed with a physical exam and X-ray. Diseases causing inflammatory joint pain require bloodwork, and your doctor can order further testing if needed.
“The main distinction we make is between inflammatory and noninflammatory joint pain. Swelling is the most obvious signal there is inflammation inside a joint. There can also be warmth and redness, and the doctor or patient can see these symptoms externally,” Dr. Chou explains. “With inflammatory joint pain, the patient feels pain and stiffness, and those symptoms are worse when they rest and feel better when they move. Noninflammatory joint pain is felt when the individual moves the joint.”
Finding Treatment That Works
Arthritis relief requires a combination of treatment and medication, modifying the activities causing the pain, increasing muscle strength and decreasing stress on the joints by using braces or splints. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen and corticosteroids such as prednisone are the first step, along with the application of ice, heat and massage. Your doctor can direct you to the best over-the-counter pain medication for you.
Addressing osteoarthritis and inflammatory joint pain involves some individual trial and error. The effectiveness of rest, medication and exercise depends on the type of disease, the person's age, other medications they are taking, their overall health, medical history and degree of symptoms.
If you have arthritis, your doctor will also offer guidance on diet, exercise and lifestyle modifications. Additional treatment can include physical therapy, injections and surgery if necessary. Surgery options for arthritis and joint inflammation are most often arthroscopy or joint replacement.
“The body is complicated. The way I approach most issues with a patient’s health starts with the assumption it’s probably not a simple issue. There’s usually not one single solution that fixes everything,” Dr. Chou says.
Factors You Can Control
Lifestyle factors can affect inflammation. A genetic predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t mean developing the disease is a certainty. Dr. Chou says sometimes an environmental factor triggers an inflammatory response. This type of vulnerability is where diet and exercise come into play.
“Being a participant in your own path to remission can definitely involve diet and a healthy exercise and sleep regimen,” he says. “It is important to keep your muscles strong so there is less pressure on the joints—meaning less pain and reduced joint damage.”
Studies show people with poor sleep patterns have increased inflammation, so rest is essential for anyone with arthritis. In addition, Dr. Chou suggests eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods. Maintaining a healthy weight and a diet of whole foods improves your health, reduces damage to your joints and can help you manage the effects of inflammation. (See Healthy Bites on page 8 for more on an anti-inflammatory diet and recipes.)
Dr. Chou says turmeric and omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation and have some impact on pain, stiffness and tenderness. He also recommends a measured approach to supplements and trendy treatments.
“You can make changes to help feel better. Sometimes people can go overboard and start removing food groups from their diets. Ask yourself if you're getting the nutrients you need including adequate protein, fiber, carbs and fats,” he says. “With any change you're making, start by thinking about the risks versus the benefits.”
If you have arthritis or joint inflammation, you want to know how to manage your pain and maintain your quality of life. Your doctor will work with you to correct, control or slow the progress of the underlying disease.
