A few of the treatments that can provide short-term relief of rheumatoid arthritis pain include medications, heat and cold, joint protection, and massage. Among the options for long-term pain relief are medications, exercise, surgery, and alternative therapies. NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are among the drugs used for short-term rheumatoid arthritis pain relief. Drugs used for long-term pain relief can include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and DMARDs.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief: An Overview
There is no single treatment that applies to everyone with
rheumatoid arthritis pain, but your healthcare providers will develop a management plan designed to minimize your specific pain and improve the function of your joints.
Treatment options for
rheumatoid arthritis pain relief are typically split into two categories: short-term pain relief and long-term pain relief.
Short-Term Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief
A number of treatments can provide short-term pain relief. Short-term rheumatoid
arthritis pain relief can include:
- Medications
- Heat and cold
- Joint protection
- TENS
- Massage.
Medications
People with rheumatoid
arthritis generally have pain caused by inflammation and often benefit from taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (
NSAIDs) such as
ibuprofen (
Motrin® or Advil
®) or
naproxen sodium (Aleve
®) that are available without a prescription
(see below for NSAIDs that may be used for long-term pain relief).
Heat and Cold
Moist heat (such as a warm bath or shower) or dry heat (such as a heating pad) placed on the painful area of the joint for about 15 minutes may relieve the pain. An ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) wrapped in a towel and placed on the sore area for about 15 minutes may help to reduce swelling and stop the pain. If you have poor circulation, do not use cold packs.
Make sure to talk with your healthcare provider about using either heat or cold for your rheumatoid arthritis pain relief.
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