Though our doctors may not scold or nag us, no doubt they become frustrated when we don't follow their advice. We certainly should. And the lessons they've learned can benefit us all. Although doctors can't always promise happy endings, they can help minimize the effects of this painful and potentially debilitating disease. But they can't do it alone.
Individualized treatment is a necessity.
Robert C. Schenck Jr., MD Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Arthritis is an umbrella term for more than 100 different diseases. There are dozens of drugs prescribed at different dosages and in different combinations, depending on the form, severity and manifestations of the disease. Just because a certain treatment worked for a relative or friend, don't assume it should work for you. Nor should you feel hopeless if the medications you've tried so far haven't helped. And treatment isn't synonymous with medication.