Traditional vs. Alternative Arthritis Treatments: Which One Works Best?

Arthritis can be a devastating disease that takes its toll on our everyday well-being. It turns even simple activities, like walking and picking things up, into painful tasks. Finding remedies for arthritis is crucial to regain your pain-free life.

To help you find the best remedy for your symptoms, we will look at different treatment options, weighing the pros and cons of each.

If you are ready to finally say goodbye to your arthritis pains, keep reading!

The goal of arthritis treatments

Before we dive into the list of remedies, we need to talk a bit about the goal of arthritis treatments.

Arthritis has many forms. Each of them affects the joints in negative ways, but the set of symptoms and the progression of the disease can vary. What’s important to keep in mind is that most forms of arthritis can cause permanent damage to the joints. Once the damage is done, it usually can’t be undone completely.

Furthermore, most types of arthritis are incurable conditions and will get worse over time.

So, generally, the aim of treatment is to slow down the progression of the disease and lessen the impact of the symptoms on our everyday lives.

Traditional treatment options for arthritis

First, we will discuss traditional remedies, often prescribed by doctors.

Over-the-counter or prescription painkillers

Pain relief is among the top priorities when treating arthritis.

For this purpose, doctors often recommend traditional painkillers, either OTC or prescription ones, depending on how severe the pain is. These usually reduce the pain symptoms, but some of them don’t treat the inflammation.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Ibuprofen and Naproxen are frequently used NSAID medications. They reduce both inflammation and pain.

While these medications are reliable sources of pain relief, they often come with undesirable side effects, such as stomach irritations or an increased risk of heart problems.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are often used in treating arthritis, either in the form of pills or directly injected into the joints. They help reduce inflammation and work as an immunosuppressant. The latter is important, because some types of arthritis are autoimmune diseases, meaning that the immune system attacks the joints, causing damage.

Corticosteroid treatments are usually more effective than NSAIDs, and the effects of one injection can last for several months. However, they also weaken the immune system, and repeated use can increase cartilage loss. So, they don’t come without side effects either.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

DMARDs are often used by patients with autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. They can slow down the progression of the disease by suppressing the immune reaction of the body. While this can help treat the symptoms of arthritis, it also comes with a weakened immune system.

Targeted DMARDs are a fairly new type of medication. As their name suggests, instead of affecting the whole immune system, they only target certain molecules, lessening the side effects while keeping the benefits.

Topical solutions

Creams, gels, patches, and other topical solutions can be used instead of – or in conjunction with – oral medicines.

The active ingredients in these solutions can vary. Some contain natural numbing or cooling agents, others are targeted NSAID medications.

Surgery for arthritis

Surgery is a more drastic measure, but in some severe cases, it might be the only effective treatment.

During joint repair surgery, the surfaces of the bones are smoothened and realigned. This removes the painful bone spurs at the ends of bones, and helps alleviate the pain. In some cases, the joint can’t be saved anymore, and replacement surgery might be necessary. During this process, they replace the whole joint with an artificial one.

Natural, alternative, and home remedies for arthritis

Alongside the traditional medications, there are also some alternative remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.

When looking at alternative treatments, it’s important to do the proper research for each option. Some of the solutions you might come across are science-backed and recommended by doctors, while others, not so much.

Herbal remedies for arthritis

Some herbal and natural solutions can ease the pain of the joints and allow a better range of movement. These are usually topical remedies, like creams applied directly to the affected joints.

Common ingredients in these products are menthol and capsaicin. Menthol has a cooling effect that soothes the nerves, reduces inflammation, and alleviates the pain. Capsaicin – extracted from chili peppers – has the exact opposite effect causing an initial burning sensation in the area, which numbs the pain by blocking a pain signal chemical in the body.

Hot and cold therapy

Temperature therapy is a natural and science-backed way to reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation.

Heat therapy can relax the stiff joints and improve circulation in the surrounding area. It can be as simple as a hot bath or a heating pad. But some prefer using warm paraffin wax on the painful joints.

Cold therapy can numb the pain receptors in the area, soothing pain and reducing inflammation. A bag of ice, a cold pack, or a bathtub filled with iced water are all simple ways that can help with the acute pains of arthritis.

Massage

Massage therapy has an important medical role in many joint or muscle-related diseases, including arthritis. A good massage can improve blood flow, reduce swelling and stiffness, and temporarily improve the mobility of the joints.

It’s important to note that one should be careful with massages, applying only moderate pressure and never done during a pain flare-up.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

TENS is a treatment that works by sending an electric current through the nerves, overriding pain signals. While some find it an effective way to relieve acute pains, the scientific evidence is not uniform on the uses of TENS. So, currently, the general recommendation is to avoid TENS treatment until more research is done on the topic.

Glucosamine supplements

Another commonly suggested treatment option for arthritis is glucosamine. Glucosamine is a crystalline compound that naturally occurs in connective tissues.

The problem with glucosamine treatment is that some anecdotal evidence supports its use, while other research suggests that it has an adverse effect in treating arthritis. For this reason, doctors and practitioners often advise against it, at least until we have more data.

Lifestyle changes as remedies for arthritis

While joint damage can’t be reversed, some lifestyle factors can have a strong effect on the progression of arthritis. Making some recommended lifestyle changes can slow down the disease and reduce the symptoms at the same time.

Losing weight

Obesity can be a significant risk factor for many forms of arthritis. The reason behind this is the increased load on the already damaged joints that might lead to faster deterioration.

While losing weight is not always easy, especially when your range of motion is already limited because of arthritis, there are still some options.

Following a stricter diet, eating more healthy foods, and getting a little more active can all go a long way toward naturally slowing down the progression of arthritis.

Exercise for arthritis

Regular exercise can help in multiple different ways. As mentioned above, losing some weight can ease the burden on the affected joints. Low-impact movement can also reduce stiffness and increase the range of motion. Another benefit is that the stronger the surrounding muscles are, the better they can support the joint.

When we say exercise, we don’t mean crazy things like running marathons or climbing rocks. There are certain low-impact exercises perfectly suited for arthritis patients.

Swimming or other underwater activities are great because they allow free movement without unnecessary joint stress. Tai chi and some forms of yoga are also highly recommended forms of exercise, both of which can be done at home with minimal or no equipment.

Diet for arthritis

Following a healthy and balanced diet can be beneficial not only for arthritis symptoms but for your general health too.

As we already mentioned above, keeping a healthy weight can reduce the stress on your joints and slow down the progression of certain forms of arthritis. A balanced diet – rich in unprocessed foods, fruits, and vegetables and a limited intake of unhealthy fats – can help you achieve this.

Furthermore, certain foods might have a connection with arthritis symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, can help reduce inflammation associated with certain forms of arthritis. Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of arthritis. Red meats are known for their inflammatory effects, so it’s recommended to lower your intake of them if you are suffering from inflammatory arthritis.

You can find a lot of claims online about certain foods that could help with arthritis, but the truth is, only very few of these are fully backed by scientific research. However, aiming for a healthy and balanced diet will help your body in many different ways, while having no real downside. So regardless of its effects (or the lack of them) on your arthritis symptoms, following general guidelines about healthy eating would be beneficial when planning your diet.

A unique treatment option for arthritis pain

As you can see, when choosing arthritis treatment options, you might have to make some compromises. Especially when it comes to pain management, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Traditional pain medications can come with a lot of side effects. Natural remedies usually have lesser side effects, but they might not be as reliable.

Here at Super Patch, we have a vision that one should not make compromises when it comes to health. This is what inspired our Freedom patches.

These pain patches use innovative vibrotactile technology, stopping the pain right at the nerves without negative side effects or medications involved. They can offer pain relief on their own, or you can even use them in conjunction with other arthritis remedies, as they don’t interfere with traditional medicine.

If you are looking for a unique way to remedy your arthritis symptom – without making compromises – then come and take a look at our Freedom Pain Patches!

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