Arthritis:
No Appointment Necessary

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, May 21 and August 20, 2005
Show 213

Dr. Lisa Thornton:

The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation. And more than 40 million Americans suffer from it. Here's a bit more about arthritis.

Nevine Sorial, PharmD, RPh

Stiffness can be a form of arthritis. If you feel stiff in the morning or after periods of an activity but feel better after a few minutes, it could be a sign of the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis. If it lasts for more than one hour, you may have rheumatory arthritis which is more serious. If you suspect you have arthritis, you should see your doctor. While there's no medical cure, there are treatments to reduce pain and stiffness. Over the counter pain relievers like aspirin, or acetaminophen can help. As well as steroid injections or surgical procedures like joint replacement. Other things you can do to help is to maintain in a healthy weight, modify your footwear or applying heat to any painful areas.