Page 10 - E-Book-Arthritis
P. 10
Hot and Cold Therapy
In some cases applying heat or cold to the affected area can help with pain relief in an attempt to increase
or decrease the blood flow to the area thus decreasing pain. Speak with your therapist beforehand to be
sure you’re using the right modality for you.
Medication
Your doctor may supply you with pain relief medication or prescribe you NSAIDs (Non-steroidal
Anti-inflammatory drugs) based upon your presentation or medical history. Your doctor will discuss with
you the type of medication you should take, the reasons why and the risks incorporated with it.
Surgery
Having surgery may greatly improve your quality of life and range of movement but invasive surgery
should be considered as the last resort in any situation. Surgeries around arthritis can be used to fuse a
joint (join the two adjacent bones together), removing or adding small parts of bone around the joint to
improve its function and in severe cases, the joint itself may be replaced such as a hip or knee
replacement.
***
