Questions and Answers

The Arthritis Society routinely receives frequently asked questions and some not so common ones. While the questions are asked by people with varied forms of arthritis and from different regions of the country, they do have something in common - they represent a hunger for knowledge and understanding. We've created this resource area for you to review some of the questions and responses our staff and volunteers gathered. We hope they offer some insights and encourage you to browse further into the site.

The questions are not organized in any particular order. You can browse them twenty questions at a time, or use the search feature to find if any questions were asked about a topic that interests you.

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Question 21
Can arthritis be cured?

The only form of arthritis which can be cured is that due to infection  which can be treated by antibiotics.  Other forms of arthritis, such as gout,  can be completely controlled with medications.  Most forms of arthritis can be controlled in large part by medication.  A great deal of research around the  world is being done to find not only the cause but better methods of controlling  and eventually curing chronic arthritis.  

Question 22
Will a heat lamp help me and how often should I use it?

A heat lamp applied to a sore part will also give only temporary relief.  No long-term benefit comes from using a heat lamp regularly.  If you are going  to use a heat lamp, it is best to get the advice of your doctor about this and, in particular, to ensure that you do not pay too much for the lamp.  Use only  gentle heat, if from a lamp or an electric heater.

Question 23
What can I do to make it easier to get moving in the morning?  

Morning stiffness is usually brief in osteoarthritis but in rheumatoid arthritis it may be several hours before the stiffness goes away. It is sometimes helpful to take your prescribed medication last thing at night.  A hot bath or shower in the morning can help to reduce the duration of stiffness.

Question 24
A friend of mine suggested a copper bracelet. Should I get one?  

The occasional success that is recorded with this and some other 'fast cures' is because of the natural fluctuations in the course of the disease, or  because the type of rheumatism you have is one that gets better with time anyway  One thing that can be said is that a copper bracelet will do you no harm.


Question 25
Why does my doctor always give me the same pills?  Are there no advanced medications available?

If the pills you are taking are adequately controlling the pain in your joints there is no indication for changing them and your doctor will, of course,  continue to prescribe them.  New drugs certainly are available as a result of advances in drug research in the last few years.  However, many of these drugs have not as yet been fully assessed and your doctor wisely will be cautious in  prescribing them for you.  The use of some of these drugs is restricted to specialist arthritis clinics until the frequency and extent of side effects is  known.  

Question 26
Why am I never without pain even when I am taking my pills?  

The medications which are available to relieve the pain of arthritis are not entirely satisfactory.  Even the most potent of these medications may not completely abolish the pain in arthritis.  If however, you are not getting good relief within a few weeks from the pills subscribed by your doctor, you should  inform them and they may change the type or suggest extra for bad days.  In general, with the range of medications now available, people with arthritis should not have to suffer severe pain.

Question 27
I am on constant aspirin. What do I take for a headache or a cold?

It is important if you have severe headaches, especially if prolonged,  that you seek the advice of your doctor.  Headaches can result from arthritis affecting the neck and this may be best treated with a collar.  If however, you develop a mild headache and you wish to relieve the pain in it, you may wish to  take acetaminophen.  There really is no medication which will cure a cold but usually in a day or two it will clear up.

Question 28
What are side effects and why do they happen?

Undesirable reactions to medications are referred to by doctors as side  effects.  They happen for a number of reasons not all of which are understood. For instance, you may react to a medication after a small dose and come out in a rash or your stomach may be upset by the medications.  Side effects may also occur after a medication has been taken for a long time.  Side effects occur with all medications, but they don't need to be serious.  Tell your doctor when a side  effect occurs.  

Question 29
How often should I have my condition assessed?

This is a difficult question to answer because arthritis progresses at a very different rate in different people.  Some people require very frequent assessments while others need them less often, particularly if the disease's progress is arrested for long periods.  In general, it is wise to have a check- up with your doctor at least yearly. It could be that he or she will want to change your medications, send you to occupational therapy or physiotherapy, or refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon about some problem.  

Question 30
What types of tests do they use to diagnose arthritis?

It is common to undergo a wide variety of tests before confirming a diagnosis of arthritis.  However, THERE IS NO SINGLE TEST THAT WILL CONFIRM OR  DENY THE PRESENCE OF ARTHRITIS IN EVERY CASE. Perfectly normal people may demonstrate abnormal results, while people with severe disease may demonstrate perfectly normal results COMMON TESTS: Hemoglobin tests: measure the number of red blood cells - in chronic disease, number is usually decreased.  White blood counts: indicate if infection is present or reaction to drugs.Sedimentation Rate (ESR): measures the degree of inflammation when arthritis problem is present  (high rate = high degree of inflammation) Rheumatoid factor: used to dx or track improvement in treatment.ANA (antinuclear antibodies)used dx lupus, RA,  connective tissue diseases. Other tests:urinalysis, biopsies, aspirations (joint fluid tests), x-rays (used to check changes in bone/extent of damage)

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