How Over-the-Counter Arthritis Medicine Can Help — and What to Do When It Doesn’t

Nearly 25% of American adults have been diagnosed with some type of arthritis. That’s a lot of people experiencing joint inflammation, pain, swelling and general discomfort. Although there are many medical treatments for arthritis, a lot of people start with over-the-counter arthritis medicine to find relief. Are these treatments effective? They can be for some people, but as arthritis progresses, most people need more intensive treatments to keep their pain under control.

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The Types of Over-the-Counter Arthritis Medicine

There are two primary over-the-counter treatments for arthritis-related pain: topical ointments and pills.

Topical ointments often contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which help ease joint pain by reducing inflammation. Other ingredients include capsaicin, which works by reducing a pain transmitter in the nerves, as well as camphor, menthol and lidocaine. The Arthritis Foundation recommends trying topical treatments first, because they often have fewer side effects than pills and work just as well. They can also be used for longer periods of time. Plus, you apply them directly to the painful joint, so relief may come sooner.

NSAIDs also come in pill form and include ibuprofen and naproxen. Aspirin is also an NSAID, but it can have more side effects than the other two options and should be used with caution. You’ll find multiple brands of these common anti-inflammatories at your local store, so you’ll want to read the packaging to identify the active ingredient.

NSAIDs can be great for relieving pain and inflammation, but they aren’t appropriate for everyone. If NSAIDs don’t relieve pain for you, or you are unable to take this category of medications for some reason, acetaminophen is another over-the-counter option for pain relief.

This is the active ingredient in brand-name Tylenol, though you will also find many cheaper, generic options at the store. Acetaminophen isn’t an anti-inflammatory. It relieves pain by interfering with how your brain perceives pain.

Acetaminophen is usually recommended for pregnant women, along with others who shouldn’t take anti-inflammatories, such as those with heart health issues or people who are taking a blood thinner.

Other At-Home Care for Finding Arthritis Relief

Beyond medications, healthy lifestyle habits can go a long way in helping manage or alleviate arthritis pain. To start:

• Eat a healthy diet filled with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Certain foods, such as fatty fish and berries, can help reduce inflammation.
• Exercise regularly, aiming for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. To avoid putting excess strain on your joints, choose joint-friendly, low-impact activities, such as walking and water aerobics.
• Get to a healthy weight. Excess weight can put pressure on your joints. Even a small amount of weight loss may help.

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In addition to these lifestyle habits, you may find relief with at-home treatment options, such as applying heat or cold to the affected joint.

The Arthritis Foundation also recommends complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, meditation and massage, which may help relieve the symptoms of arthritis in some cases.

When At-Home Care Doesn’t Offer Relief

Seeing your health care provider about your symptoms is an important first step when you think you may have arthritis. He or she can determine whether at-home treatments will help or if you should start with prescription medications, injections or other treatments. It’s also important to check in with your provider when over-the-counter arthritis medicines and other at-home treatments no longer work or your symptoms worsen. Treating arthritis often requires a multi-pronged approach.

“Joint pain and other symptoms require medical care when they begin to disrupt your daily life,” says Sarah Blau, certified physician assistant at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists. “When you can’t move easily or you experience pain walking, your overall health suffers. We have treatment options that can help.”

For severe arthritis, these options may include joint replacement, which removes the worn-out joint and replaces it with artificial components. People who have joint replacement often experience almost-immediate pain relief and can return to normal activities after completing a period of rehabilitation.

If joint replacement surgery seems like a big step, your orthopedic specialist can try joint injections. These typically include corticosteroids, which reduce swelling, but may also include hyaluronic acid, which acts as a lubricant to help your joints move more smoothly.

“We can deliver these injections directly to the joint,” Blau says. “They can very effectively reduce pain for a few months.”

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A third option is physical therapy. Your therapist can teach you exercises that improve your mobility, strengthen the muscles surrounding your joint and allow you do perform daily activities more easily.

Different forms of arthritis may respond to different treatments, so talk to your orthopedic specialist about the best way to approach your arthritis pain. With so many surgical and nonsurgical options available, you can find the relief you need to get back to enjoying life.

When at-home treatments no longer offer you relief, an orthopedic specialist can help you determine your next steps. Request an appointment.