Q&A for How to Get Rid of Arthritis Pain

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How can I fight osteoarthritis naturally?

Jason Myerson, DPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Physical Therapist & Certified Orthopedic Specialist
Jason Myerson is a Physical Therapist and a Certified Orthopedic Specialist. He is affiliated with Performance Physical Therapy & Wellness with clinics located in Connecticut. He serves as adjunct faculty in the Physical Therapy Department at Quinnipiac University. Jason specializes in helping active people get back to hobbies, activities, and sports they love while utilizing an integrated approach to wellness. He holds an MA in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Arcadia University. He is Residency and Fellowship trained in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, achieved a Doctorate in Manual Therapy (DMT) and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).

Jason Myerson, DPT, DMT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Physical Therapist & Certified Orthopedic Specialist

Expert Answer

To help avoid osteoarthritis pain, try to get up and move around frequently. For instance, if you're working, get up once or twice an hour to stretch, rather than working for 3 or 4 hours at a time.

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Question

Does exercise help with arthritis pain?

David Schechter, MD
Family Medicine Practitioner
Dr. David Schechter is a physician in Culver City, California. With over 25 years of experience as a family and sports medicine physician, Dr. Schechter specializes in mind-body medicine, preventive medicine, and chronic pain. Dr. Schechter received his MD from New York University and is an attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was named a Top Doctor by Los Angeles Magazine and Men's Health Magazine. He has also written several books, including The MindBody Workbook.

David Schechter, MD

Family Medicine Practitioner

Expert Answer

It really depends on the type of exercise and the type of arthritic pain. Some light exercise and smart rehabilitation can be a good thing. At the same time, arthritic joints really need to rest sometimes. I'd recommend talking to your doctor first before you do anything else.

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Question

What can I do to relieve knee pain?

David Schechter, MD
Family Medicine Practitioner
Dr. David Schechter is a physician in Culver City, California. With over 25 years of experience as a family and sports medicine physician, Dr. Schechter specializes in mind-body medicine, preventive medicine, and chronic pain. Dr. Schechter received his MD from New York University and is an attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was named a Top Doctor by Los Angeles Magazine and Men's Health Magazine. He has also written several books, including The MindBody Workbook.

David Schechter, MD

Family Medicine Practitioner

Expert Answer

The knee is a complicated joint. Typically, knee pain is the result of overuse, so a little rest may be in order. But you could start with ice and anti-inflammatory pills or gels. You could also get a knee sleeve, which is made of neoprene or elastic, to provide some support for your knee.

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Question

Can I treat joint redness at home?

Zheni Stavre, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Zheni Stavre is a board-certified Rheumatologist based in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Stavre specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and an MD in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Stavre is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Zheni Stavre, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

If you're dealing with a minor injury and the area is just irritated, maybe. But if you've got persistent redness that won't go away after a day or two, it's time to see a doctor. This is the kind of thing you need a medical professional to look at.

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Question

What if I feel like I have a fever?

Zheni Stavre, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Zheni Stavre is a board-certified Rheumatologist based in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Stavre specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and an MD in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Stavre is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Zheni Stavre, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

If you have joint redness and a fever, you need to go see a doctor immediately. There are a few things that could cause both of these symptoms, but they need to be investigated.

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Question

What kind of tests will a doctor do to figure out what's causing the redness?

Zheni Stavre, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Zheni Stavre is a board-certified Rheumatologist based in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Stavre specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and an MD in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Stavre is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Zheni Stavre, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

You can expect a whole variety of blood tests and X-rays. It can be a little tricky to get a diagnosis with this since the cause could be something really basic, like arthritis, or a complicated autoimmune disease, like lupus.

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Question

What is the best pain relief for arthritis?

Zheni Stavre, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Zheni Stavre is a board-certified Rheumatologist based in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Stavre specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and an MD in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Stavre is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Zheni Stavre, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

It depends on what works for you. Different people find different solutions beneficial. Some people find a lot of relief from topical creams, while other folks prefer OTC anti-inflammatory medications.

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Question

Will arthritis pain go away on its own?

Zheni Stavre, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Zheni Stavre is a board-certified Rheumatologist based in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Stavre specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and an MD in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Stavre is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Zheni Stavre, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

The pain may come and go in waves, but if you've been diagnosed with arthritis, that pain is likely going to come back at some point. This isn't one of those problems that just goes away on its own.

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Question

How do you find out if you have rheumatoid arthritis?

Siddharth Tambar, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Tambar specializes in Regenerative Medicine and Rheumatology, with a focus on platelet rich plasma and bone marrow derived stem cell treatments for arthritis, tendinitis, injuries, and back pain. Dr. Tambar holds a BA in Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his MD from State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his Internship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and his Rheumatology Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Siddharth Tambar, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

I recommend you talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They will likely run a blood test to determine your risk for RA. They may also use a musculoskeletal ultrasound to take a look at the inflammation in your joints.

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Question

Can degenerative arthritis be cured?

Siddharth Tambar, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Tambar specializes in Regenerative Medicine and Rheumatology, with a focus on platelet rich plasma and bone marrow derived stem cell treatments for arthritis, tendinitis, injuries, and back pain. Dr. Tambar holds a BA in Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his MD from State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his Internship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and his Rheumatology Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Siddharth Tambar, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

The way degenerative arthritis develops is through sustaining a mild yet recurrent soft tissue injury throughout your lifetime. That then leaves the joint slightly unstable, which can eventually lead to degeneration of joints. There are a couple of ways that you should think about to prevent that from progressing. Number one, if you've had an injury to the knee, you want to be thinking about how you can reduce the stress on that knee. If you have excess weight, for example, try reducing your weight.

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Question

Should I modify my diet if I have Arthritis?

Siddharth Tambar, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Siddharth Tambar, MD is a board certified rheumatologist at Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. With over 19 years of experience, Dr. Tambar specializes in Regenerative Medicine and Rheumatology, with a focus on platelet rich plasma and bone marrow derived stem cell treatments for arthritis, tendinitis, injuries, and back pain. Dr. Tambar holds a BA in Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his MD from State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his Internship, Residency in Internal Medicine, and his Rheumatology Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr Tambar is board certified in both rheumatology and internal medicine. He also holds Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Diagnostic and Interventional certifications from the American College of Rheumatology and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Siddharth Tambar, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

I recommend people think about cardiovascular issues when choosing a diet, as arthritis can make people more prone to cardiovascular conditions. A plant-based diet, for example, may help reduce pain and swelling.

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Question

How do you relieve arthritis pain without medication?

Zheni Stavre, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Zheni Stavre is a board-certified Rheumatologist based in Worcester, Massachusetts. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Stavre specializes in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout. She holds a BS in Chemistry from Yale University and an MD in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology from The University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Stavre is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Zheni Stavre, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

Heat may help you get relief from your arthritis pain. Apply a hot compress or heating pad to the affected area, or try taking a hot shower or bath.

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Question

What is systemic arthritis? What happens?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Systemic arthritis affects many parts of the body, not just the joints. There may be no signs of joint inflammation. Systemic arthritis can be linked to heart disease, lymphoma, and atherosclerosis disease

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Question

How do I get rid of knee pain?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Treatments for osteoarthritis knee pain include NSAIDs like Motrin and Tylenol.

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