by DAVID NEEHLY The first thing to be aware of with any arthritic pain relief treatment is that you are simply 'relieving' the pain, and not actually treating or curing the underlying cause of that pain. The arthritis condition may be, and in most cases probably is, worsening in spite of the pain relief being administered. That said, in the absence of a cure for arthritis having being discovered as yet, pain relief is the only viable option for the millions of people inflicted with this cruel disease. Arthritis is a debilitating and usually progressive disease that can affect any part of the body, including the bones, joints, and even the muscles. Suffers can experience anything from mild symptoms right through to agonising pain in severe cases. It's a little know fact that there are more than 100 know varieties of arthritis, with more being discovered all the time. Medical science has so far failed to discover one single cause of arthritis, with each for of the disease appearing to have its own trigger. Some of the more common symptoms of arthritis are joint stiffness and soreness which is often accompanied by a redness and pain in the affected area. The levels of pain experienced can vary widely, so it's important to be aware of the various pain relief measures available to sufferers. Arthritis Pain Relief Options There are a wide range of pain relief options to look at. However the most common and effective treatments are the arthritis pain relief creams and gels. These are a topical medication that is applied directly to the area on and around the affected joints. The best selling treatments in recent times have been the 'cooling' creams and gels. Most of the more popular topical arthritis pain relief products contain menthol and/or peppermint. These products work on the basis of causing a gentle soothing sensation on the skin that disguises the pain coming from your arthritis. These products are quite effective for treating mild to moderate arthritic conditions. Another popular pain relief option is the salicylates based products. These are similar in nature to aspirin, and therefore offer the added benefit of acting as an anti-inflammatory as well as providing pain relief. As always with any medication, you should seek appropriate medical advice before using these products to ensure that there are not undesirable side affects or medical conflicts that might put you at risk. If your arthritic problem has progressed to the stage where the topical treatments are not providing enough relief then your doctor will likely start you on a prescribed oral medication. These treatments are usually taken at least daily, and offer much stronger options for treating the pain and other symptoms. Topical arthritis pain relief methods such as the creams and gels are always the first treatments to try, and can usually be used alongside prescribed treatments, but they are not intended to be the single answer in anything more than moderate arthritic cases. It's important to realize that an over reliance on your topical medication may indicate that you need to seek out a stronger medication from your doctor. David Neehly is the webmaster for the Arthritis information website Arthritis Secrets where you'll find all the latest arthritis news and updates, plus many more interesting Arthritis Articles
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