Another group of people gets a treatment whose effects are already known or they get no treatment at all. This comparison group is called the control group. The use of control groups helps show that the results are due to the new treatment and not to some other factor. Along with the desired benefits for arthritis, treatments may also cause unwanted effects on your health. These are called side effects.
Some side effects can be very serious.
You and your doctor can weigh this information to see if the benefits are worth the risk. You can use certain safety tip-offs to spot unproven remedies. Comes without directions for use Your doctor will tell you when and how to use a new treatment. How you use a new treatment may affect how well it works or may help avoid unwanted side effects. For instance, your doctor may tell you to take your arthritis medication with a meal to avoid an upset stomach.