Braces to mechanically support the arthritic area. Acupuncture, this is believed to release pain suppressing drugs from the body that work on the body by way of the brain. This incorporates the peripheral and central nervous system. The therapist must be made aware of the specific condition and areas to be worked on, as well as the areas to be avoided, and the referring doctor does this often. Usually the first point in treating any arthritic condition is to have x-rays taken, and often blood work to evaluate the specific arthritic condition.
Arthritis is often a disease that is a lifetime diagnosis.
It is a disease process that must be handled, as would any other chronic illness. Learning how to manage your condition, using a variety of methods taught by your physician and therapist, which is usually referred to you after your initial physicians visit or at some appropriate point. At one time, arthritis, even rheumatoid arthritis was a crippling diagnosis, and doctors had little other than aspirin and a warm moist towel with strong sedating narcotics to offer people. That has changed greatly. We now have so many new and exciting therapies and minor surgeries and even an injectable liquid fluid to put into the joint where previously laid a frozen and painful useless joint.