Treatments and Therapy for Arthritis in Melbourne

There are many ways you or someone you love can alleviate the pain that comes with arthritis. From medicinal and surgical options, to complementary therapies and home remedies, we’ve compiled a one-stop-shop for arthritis treatments in Melbourne, so you can keep doing the things that you love!

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that refers to pain and swelling among one or more joints in a person’s body, usually in the hands, hips, and knees, lower back, and neck. There are two types of arthritis – rheumatoid and osteo. Rheumatoid arthritis is less common, accounting for 20% of arthritis sufferers in Australia. This is because it is an autoimmune condition – one in which the person’s body mistakes healthy tissue for tissue that needs to be attacked. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body attacks the otherwise healthy lining of the joint, causing it to become inflamed and painful. This kind of arthritis can eventually lead to bone damage and joint deformity, in severe cases.

Osteoarthritis is more common, as it is caused by the general wear and tear of the body as you age. An injury to or infection of a joint in your body can give the development of osteoarthritis a head start. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage – the hard, lubricated casing on the end of our bones – is broken down over years and results in bones rubbing against one another, thus creating friction, leading to pain and inflammation. Like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis can also cause bone damage and joint deformity if left untreated.

Risk factors for Arthritis

Despite the differences in causes of both kinds of arthritis, research indicates there are only mild differences in the risk factors for each type. Luckily, there’s no evidence that cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis, despite the myth your mum told you in an attempt to stop you popping them!

The risk of arthritis increases with age, with 1 in 5 people over 40, and 1 in 3 people over 70 living with arthritis – no surprise, considering the years of physical activity a body of 70 years must have under its belt! Other than age, risk factors for arthritis include obesity, smoking, sex (with females more likely to experience arthritis than males), and family history, with some evidence pointing towards the influence of genes on developing arthritis. 

The Effect of Arthritis on Someone’s Life

No matter the type or cause of the arthritis, the pain and inflammation that comes with it can lead to a decreased range of motion in the affected joints. This leads to a decrease in physical activity and exercise, which become evermore more important as you age, to decrease your risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and emotional ill health.

The pain associated with arthritis can also take a big emotional toll on the person experiencing it, as 20% of Australians living with arthritis report high levels of emotional distress. This severity of pain, along with the emotional distress and time taken to complete daily tasks due to lack of mobility can cause someone with arthritis to withdraw from socialising, hobbies and participation in the community, making arthritis treatment crucial.

Treatment for Arthritis: Medical, Surgical, and Lifestyle

Lifestyle Changes as Treatment for Arthritis

Making changes to our habits and routines can seem daunting at first, but by implementing small changes to your lifestyle, the symptoms of arthritis can be eased. Despite the many options for medical and surgical intervention, lifestyle changes to ease the pain and deterioration of arthritis can be effective, as well as free! We all know that living a healthy lifestyle, including participating in exercise, getting quality sleep, and eating healthy food can have a priceless effect on our health, but how do they stack up in helping alleviate some of the pain and challenges of arthritis for you or someone you love?

Exercise

This one is deliberately at the top of our list, for good reason, too! Paradoxically, sometimes mobilising the body part that is causing us pain is the best thing for lowering the pain. Think of having sore muscles the day after trying a new exercise and how stretching helps them recover, or being encouraged to move your body after having surgery! Moving your body has a myriad of positive effects on your cardiovascular system, mood, sleep cycles and your musculoskeletal system – the most important one for arthritis treatment. Instead of high-impact exercise that pushes on the painful joints, opt for low-intensity exercise, like yoga, walking, or strength training.

Swimming, or anything exercise in the water, is especially excellent for arthritic pain, given the ease of movement in the water. Join in on your local aqua aerobics, swim laps at the pool, or engage a physiotherapist to help with exercises in a special, extra warm hydrotherapy pool. A physio-created initiative called Integrate Health focuses on hydrotherapy for the ageing population in the South-East Suburbs of Melbourne. Your local pool may have an extra warm pool for those kinds of exercises too, or even a casual aqua aerobics class! If transport is an issue for you, consider getting some extra help to get to and from the pool.

Eating Well

Our bodies operate best when they are fed nutrient-dense, high quality foods. Ensure you’re eating a balanced diet, full of fruit and veggies, protein (think lean animal products, beans and legumes, or soy-based alternatives), and wholegrains for fibre. Eating well will energise you to ensure you have enough vitality for that daily exercise, as well as helping keep a handle on your weight. Excess weight can put more pressure on your joints, increasing the pain of arthritis. By keeping to a healthy weight as part of your arthritis treatment plan can ease this pressure and pain.

Taking care of your mind

Depression and anxiety are common in people with arthritis, as the pain can be limiting for the person trying to live their life as they want to. Those who seek treatment for their low mood, through therapy, meditation, or antidepressant medication, report less arthritic pain, too! Our bodies and minds work in synchronicity and while a positive outlook can’t cure an illness, a well-looked after mind can certainly alleviate some of the stress and pain associated with it. Online meditation can be found on websites such as Smiling Mind and Headspace, and are a great way to get relaxing at home.

Medication for Arthritis Management

In conjunction with lifestyle changes and healthy living, there are many types of medication available for managing the pain of arthritis to get you back to doing the things you love! Medications that you don’t need a prescription for, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or naproxen, can all assist with pain management and thus, mobility. However, prescribed medications may be needed to help manage your arthritis. Your GP or specialist can prescribe many classes of pain medication, such as:

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

A class of medication that lower inflammation and pain. They can be taken orally or used as a topical cream. While ibuprofen and naproxen fit into this class, there other NSAIDs that your doctor can prescribe.

Steroids

A class of medication that mimic our natural hormones and, in a prescription setting, lower inflammation and pain. Steroids come with the risk of slightly more severe side effects, such as weight gain and a weakened immune system, so should be used only with proper prescription and under the care of a GP.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS)

Are particularly useful for cases of rheumatoid arthritis, as they slow the progression of the disease. They are useful for slowing the injury to the joint lining as the arthritis progresses.

Don’t forget to always consult your GP before beginning new medication, even if it’s over the counter!

Surgery for Arthritis Management

If your arthritis has not responded to lifestyle changes or medical intervention and is impacting your ability to take care of yourself, engage in hobbies, and affecting your quality of life, surgery may be indicated and beneficial for managing the pain of arthritis.

There are many types of surgery available, depending on the type and location of the arthritis. Goals of these surgeries can include removing the inflamed joint lining, replacing the joint entirely, repositioning the bone to a more aligned position, or removing parts of deteriorated bones. 

If your GP thinks you would benefit from surgery, they will refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in bone and joint surgery. You and your team of medical professionals will decide which kind of surgery is best and safest for your individual needs.

Complementary Therapies for Arthritis

While complementary or alternative therapies can seem a bit out of left field for some people, there is growing evidence that non-medicinal or surgical options can greatly contribute to the efficacy of traditional treatment. There are many non-invasive, natural pain-killing options available for a myriad of painful issues, and these are the best specifically for arthritis.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an intervention from Traditional Chinese Medicine in which fine needle points are inserted into targeted points of the body. It is used to treat a myriad of symptoms and issues, and can be effective in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. There are Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Clinics all over Melbourne, but some notable ones that specialise in arthritis include Community Acupuncture in Fitzroy, and Coburg Chinese Medicine.

Massage

Massage is an excellent therapy to stimulate blood flow and thus decrease stiffness to arthritis-affected body parts. Moreover, massage is traditionally relaxing for whoever is receiving it, and aids in decreasing stress levels – which also play an important part in a person’s perception and experience of pain. Massage clinics that pay special attention to those with arthritis include Melbourne Wellness in Blackburn and Melbourne Hand Clinics, which operate all over Melbourne.

Supplementing your Diet

Sometimes eating a balanced diet and getting all your required nutrients in each day is a difficult task – and this is where supplements can help. Basic supplements like turmeric and fish oil can have anti-inflammatory and thus pain killing effects. Other lesser-known supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, are important biological building blocks of cartilage – the casing of our joints that arthritis attacks – and studies have shown that supplementing these aids in reducing the pain and cartilage damage associated with arthritis.

Are natural therapies safe?

No matter what intervention you choose for arthritis, there is an element of risk – like the risks with surgery, for instance, as well as the risks with choosing supplements. While not all natural remedies and complementary therapies have been as rigorously tested as medicinal and surgical interventions, there are ways you can mitigate serious adverse events from using them. Always speak to your primary GP before commencing complementary therapies like supplements, as these can sometimes interact with prescription medications. Read reviews and check the licensing of interventions like acupuncturists and masseuses. Stay away from complementary therapies that promise a fast cure, a better outcome if you spend more money on more complex treatments or encourage you to step away from medical care. 

Home Remedies for Arthritis Flare Ups

There are basic things you can do at home to minimise the pain of an arthritis flare-up. Have a heat pack handy to pop in the microwave and place on the affected area for up to 20 minutes to relieve the pain. The cold is bad for exacerbating arthritis symptoms and so make sure you rug up when you go out for your daily exercise to prevent stiffening and pain in the joints. You can also install or acquire assistance devices in the house to help you keep mobile and independent while having a flare up. Having a walking tool handy like a cane or frame can be invaluable during a flare up, as can tools designed to help you reach things that are far away – like an extendable hand! A shoe horn is also great for slipping on your runners in the morning if your back’s a bit too stiff to bend over. If you or your loved one is eligible, you could also look into having further support in the home, to offload some of the tasks that keep you, your home and your life running how you want it.

The Good News

While arthritis may be a painful and limiting diagnosis at first, there is no reason why it should stop you from doing the things you love. In consultation with your GP and specialists, you can engage in numerous therapies and interventions that will minimise the pain, keep you moving and return your freedom and mobility.