Arthritis treatment generally includes occupational or physical therapy, exercise, drugs, and sometimes surgery to correct joint damage. Treatments for osteoarthritis can help relieve pain and stiffness, but the disease may continue to progress. The same was true for rheumatoid arthritis in the past. But treatments in recent years have been able to slow or stop progression of joint damage.

The duration and intensity of pain and discomfort depend on the type of arthritis and the degree of severity.

Conventional Medicine

In the case of localized pain, stiffness, and immobility, the typical three-stage arthritis treatment consists of medication to relieve pain and inflammation, rest to let injured tissues heal themselves, and exercise to rebuild mobility and strength.

Joint Protection

Learning to protect your joints is an important part of arthritis treatment. With the help of an occupational therapist, you can learn easier ways to do your normal activities, such as avoiding positions that strain your joints, using your strongest joints and muscles while sparing weaker ones, wearing braces or supports for certain joints and using grab bars in the bath, modified door knobs, canes or walkers, as well as using devices to help you with tasks such as opening jars or pulling up socks and zippers.

Your doctor may recommend pain relievers combined with regimens of heat, rest and exercise, physical therapy, and controlled application of deep heat to soothe affected joints.

Arthritis Medication

To reduce pain and inflammation in mild cases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, your doctor will probably prescribe aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen. Your doctor may also suggest acetaminophen for osteoarthritis.

In more advanced cases, your doctor may recommend corticosteroid joint injections - strong anti-inflammatories - to ease the pain and stiffness of arthritic joints. Depending on the individual, results range from temporary relief to long-lasting suppression of symptoms. Doctors are also using hyaluronate gel-like solutions in joint injections to further restore the cushion and lubricating properities of normal joint fluid thereby minimizing pain. Some examples are Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz, and Orthovisc.

In the early 1900s, researchers discovered that certain compounds containing gold, given orally or by injection, gave relief to some people who have rheumatoid arthritis and caused total remission in others.
Note, however, that because the side effects of gold treatment can range from minor skin rash to severe blood and kidney disorders, this treatment is generally approached with caution.

Newer treatments using low doses of chemotherapy medications (methotrexate) have produced dramatic improvements in severe rheumatoid arthritis, and these treatments show great promise of preserving joint function. Other strong medications that have come along since methotrexate are Arava, Azulfidine, Enbrel, Imuran, Neoral, Plaquenil, Remicade, Humira, Kineret, Rituxan, and Orencia. In general, they work by suppressing the overactive immune system. Apheresis is another treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that removes antibodies from the blood.

Specific arthritis treatment will depend on the nature and seriousness of the underlying condition. The major concern is for healing the affected area before more serious problems occur. Treatment of infectious arthritis typically involves large intravenous doses of antibiotics as well as drainage of excess fluid from the joints.

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Osteoarthritis Guide

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Do You Have Fibromyalgia Pain?

Cymbalta is approved for the management of fibromyalgia.

Important Safety Information

Cymbalta^® (duloxetine HCl) is approved for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder, and for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

What should I talk about with my healthcare provider?

Patients on antidepressants and their families or caregivers should watch for new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, restlessness, or extreme hyperactivity. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have thoughts of suicide or if any of these symptoms are severe or occur suddenly. Be especially observant within the first few months of antidepressant treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.

You should also know that:

Suicide is a known risk of depression and some other psychiatric disorders.
Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts or behaviors in some children, adolescents, and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when changing the dose. No increased risk has been shown for adults over age 24, and risk decreased for those over age 65.
All patients starting therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for new or worsening depression symptoms, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or unusual changes in behavior.
Cymbalta^® is not approved for use in patients under age 18.

Who should NOT take Cymbalta?
You should not take Cymbalta if:

You have recently taken a type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
You have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma (an eye disease)
You are taking Mellaril^® (thioridazine)

What other important information should I discuss with my healthcare provider?
Before starting Cymbalta, tell your healthcare provider:

about all of your medical conditions, including kidney problems, glaucoma, or diabetes
about your alcohol use
if you are taking nonprescription or prescription medicines, including those for migraine, to address a possible life threatening condition
if you are taking NSAID pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners. Use with Cymbalta may increase bleeding risk
if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant during therapy, or are breastfeeding an infant

While taking Cymbalta, tell your healthcare provider:

if you have itching, right upper belly pain, dark urine, yellow skin/eyes, or unexplained flu-like symptoms, which may be signs of liver problems. Severe liver problems, sometimes fatal, have been reported
if you have high fever, confusion, and stiff muscles to address a possible life-threatening condition
before stopping Cymbalta or changing your dose
if you experience dizziness or fainting upon standing, especially when first starting Cymbalta or when increasing the dose. Your healthcare provider may periodically check your blood pressure while you are taking Cymbalta

If you have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider before taking Cymbalta.

What are the possible side effects of Cymbalta?

The most common side effect of Cymbalta was nausea. For most people who had it, the nausea was mild to moderate. Other common side effects included dry mouth, sleepiness, constipation, decreased appetite, and, increased sweating. This is not a complete list of side effects.

Safety Information and Boxed Warning | Prescribing Information | Medication Guide