Are you looking for treatment of osteoarthritis which is best for you? What do you prefer oral medicines or joint pain cream? Let's talk about joint arthritis and its treatment in this article.

What is osteoarthritis? It is a form of arthritis which is indicated by the progressive breakdown of cartilage and joints of the bones. It is a degenerative disease and is the most common in different kinds of arthritis conditions. It occurs as a person age. When a person grows older, his/her joints and cartilages begin to wear out. The lubricants on joints are also decreasing thus reducing the flexibility of joint movements. This disease is more common in females rather than males.

Treatment of osteoarthritis comes in different types. Your options are medicines, home remedies and herbal supplements. Surgery is the procedure done for the severe cases of joint arthritis. When you consult a doctor regarding your arthritis, drug regimens can be prescribed. Non-steroidal inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are prescribed. These drugs are bought over the counter but the dosage should be consulted with your doctor. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend you with anti-rheumatic drugs and corticosteroids.

Side effects of NSAIDs include stomach distress, heartburn and skin rashes. In some cases, NSAID can cause ulcer especially for those people who have a higher stomach acidity level. NSAIDs can be given together with anti-acidic drugs like Maalox. This will neutralize the effect. Adverse effects of NSAIDs include confusion, and fluid retention. Swelling of the face and feet, and decreased in urine output indicate fluid retention.

Anti-rheumatic drugs have lesser side effects compared to NSAIDs. This is only through close and adequate monitoring of patients. Hazardous reactions can occur if this drug is not taken as prescribed. It can interact with other drugs you are taking.

Corticosteroids have more side effects than NSAIDs. This drug is a long term therapy for arthritis. Immediate stopping in this regimen can be life-threatening. Dosage must be gradually reduced until the adrenal glands resume to its normal state. Complications with corticosteroids include fever, joint pain and muscle pain. This issue is normally confused with steroid withdrawal symptoms.

Cure for arthritis is not yet discovered but a lot remedies for dealing with its symptoms are invented. Natural and herbal remedies are much safer than the drug regimen. This due to the lesser side effects of the supplements because they are made from natural ingredients.

Supplements for arthritis include glucosamine, MSMs and chondroitin. Though these materials are naturally found in the human body, supplements from these types are taken from other living things like shells and plants. That is why herbal is literally the term used for it. Combinations of these supplements are often sold in the market. They come in different forms and in different brands. Each brand claims they are very much effective. Until today, there is no thorough investigation on the safety and quality of supplements; you should be the one to choose which is better.

Doing your own research about manufacturers of these supplements is a must. It is better to be safe than risking your life with fraud products. Look for the one which are well-known and a lot of people are claiming that they are effective. Don't risk your happiness for unreliable treatments. But never ignore your joint arthritis symptoms. If medicines didn't go well for you, look for safe yet effective supplements for the treatment of osteoarthritis.