Arthritis is a general term that refers to swelling or tenderness in one or more joints in the body. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both conditions share similar symptoms such as pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Osteoarthritis is ten times more common in adults due to wear and tear on the joints as you age. This condition leads to breakdown of joint cartilage and the underlying bone (cartilage is the elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones).

On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that may begin at any time in life, where the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.

How is arthritis treated?

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis cannot be reversed but introducing self-management strategies such as therapeutic exercise (physiotherapy), acupuncture or massage therapy, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight can help relieve symptoms. Your health care provider can also prescribe medication to provide pain relief.

In some circumstances, your health care provider might also recommend surgery to help with severe symptoms that do not improve with self-management strategies. The two main goals of osteoarthritis treatment are to control pain and help you perform daily activities.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Introducing self-management strategies to relieve symptoms and maintain your quality of life is, again, one of the most effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. If you are in the early stages of this health condition, your health care provider may discuss using aggressive drug therapy with immunosuppressants to reverse or stop the progression of the disease.

What medications can help?

Osteoarthritis
There are many different options for treating arthritis and these can vary significantly depending on your diagnosis, pain intensity, duration, previous response to other treatments, and other health conditions.

Some individuals may respond to low doses of over-the-counter oral or topical analgesics (for pain relief) or anti-inflammatory treatments. Your health care provider may also prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory if other treatments do not work for you. Please note that most anti-inflammatory drugs are subject to ASEBP’s Therapeutic Alternative Reference Program (TARP), which means the plan will cover up to the cost of the generic alternative.

In some advanced cases of osteoarthritis, your health care provider may recommend a trial of injecting viscosupplements (artificial synovial fluid) into the affected joints. Some research suggests that viscosupplementation is most effective for mild to moderate arthritis; however, other studies have found that it’s not effective at significantly reducing pain.

Your ASEBP benefits cover joint injectables (e.g., Duralane, Synvisc), up to $1,000 per person, per calendar year, but not the fee most health care providers charge to administer an injection. If you have a health spending account, you can use it to claim this expense.

The use of opioid-based treatments is typically not recommended because the side effects often outweigh any modest benefits to pain relief.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Treatments can differ significantly from patient to patient, but more medical specialists are using immunosuppressant or biologic drugs to reduce inflammation and slow down progression of the disease. All biologic drugs require special authorization approval for coverage. Please note that your health care provider has access to these forms and must submit this request on your behalf.

Since many individuals have complex pain histories from multiple injuries or pain conditions, it is important to follow the treatment plan outlined by your health care team.

Can I prevent arthritis?

The key to preventing many chronic health conditions, including arthritis, is to maintain an active lifestyle where you are physically active, maintain a healthy body weight, manage stress, and get enough sleep.

Protecting your joints from potential injury by stretching, wearing protective equipment for sports (knee pads), and taking breaks between repetitive activities (including sitting too long at a desk) can help protect your joints from injury.

The information provided in this article is for personal use, reference, and education only. ASEBP does not provide medical advice. Before starting any medication or product, you should always consult with your pharmacist, health care provider, or call Alberta Health Link at 811.