Arthritis is the most chronic joint disease and affects almost 70 million Americans. Arthritis symptoms include pain, stiffness, joint swelling, and sometimes fatigue. These symptoms can be so severe that they affect a persons ability to perform such routine activities of daily living such as dressing and undressing, combing their hair, or opening jars.

So how does a person with arthritis get pain relief?

Here are a few important tips

Exercise. Proper exercise is important. Low impact aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the joints. Strengthening exercises help to stabilize the joints. Range-of-motion exercises increase flexibility.

Rest. Just as important as exercise is rest. Properly cushioned, well-fitting shoe, canes, walkers, and braces are all methods to help rest joints. These devices should be used after consulting with a physical therapist to ensure that damage is not being done to the joint by excessive reliance on the assistive device.

Over-the-counter medicines are an option. Low doses of analgesics (such as acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatory medicines can help relieve the discomfort of mild arthritis. Topical agents such as capsaicin are also helpful. Proper and timely application of cold or heat can also be a tremendous aid for patients. Neither should be applied for longer than 20 minutes at a time and extremely hot or extremely cold applications should be avoided.

Weight control is essential. Even small weight losses can improve physical function and reduce pain.

So what do you do if you still hurt?

Arthritis treatment and pain relief often depends on the diagnosis. Different types of arthritis (and there are more than 100 different kinds) are treated differently. For most types of arthritis, though, there are some general principles that apply.

Prescription anti-inflammatory medicines or, as they are called, non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are often used to treat arthritis pain. Examples include Motrin, Naprosyn, Celebrex, and Mobic. While effective, they do have potential side-effects including allergic reactions, stomach ulcers, and cardiovascular risks. Nonetheless, they may help relieve pain tremendously.

Patients who have localized joint pain often benefit from steroid injections directly into the affected joint. A well-trained rheumatologist using ultrasound or fluoroscopy for needle guidance should be consulted. Patients with osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis) in the knees can get relief from hyaluronic acid injections. These are synthetic lubricants that are effective in relieving pain. Other joints also respond to this method of treatment.

Nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin as well as a host of other supplements may also be useful. They are worth a try.

In patients whose arthritis has progressed beyond what medicines can do to help, surgical procedures such as arthroscopy (inserting a small telescope into the joint and removing damaged and diseased tissue) or arthroplasty (joint replacement) may be necessary.