Arthritis is quite a common health condition, affecting millions of Americans alone. The term "arthritis" itself is used to describe a whole group of health conditions that are characterized by inflammatory processes in the joints, which cause chronic pain and joint stiffness. There are many different forms of arthritis as well as treatment methods used that depend on the specific type of condition and health situation in every individual seeking treatment.

The most common types of arthritis disorders are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It is estimated that there are about 40 million of Americans suffering from these two conditions alone.

• Osteoarthritis is described by the gradual deterioration of cartilage between bones in joints, which results in painful sensations and dysfunction of the affected joints.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is described by inflammatory processes in the lining of joints, which are usually more severe than in cases of osteoarthritis.

In most cases arthritis and the associated painful sensations are caused by a set of factors, such as:

• Inflammatory processes in different elements of the joint. This is usually accompanied by redness and swelling in the affected region.

• Damage of joint tissue resulting from trauma or excessive joint use.

There are different methods for treating arthritis and relieving associated symptoms such as chronic pain. Choosing a particular treatment option means taking a series of factors into considerations such as type of arthritis, its severity, patient's lifestyle, other health conditions and many others. That's why it should be done by a healthcare professional who will be able to select the right treatment plan and adjust it to your specific situation. Relieving the pain associated with arthritis often becomes the main challenge when treating the condition, since it's nearly always associated with chronic pain. It is important to distinguish the type of pain relief you're aiming at, since long and short term pain relief usually have different means of delivery. For having short term arthritis pain relief many people use cold/hot therapy as the primary form of non-medication pain management. As the name suggests these two therapies are based on applying heat or cold to the affected area for some time in order to relieve pain. Cold can effectively numb and reduce sensitivity in nerve endings, which leads to pain relief for some time. Heat can act as a muscle relaxant, which is very useful in joint conditions such as arthritis. However, it is important to exercise these methods with moderation and try to not mix both in a short period of time. Of course, the most popular pain relief option for pain management in arthritis is using oral medications. There are different types of medications used, each having its specific use and set of benefits. For example, analgesic drugs like Ultram can be used for relieving any kind of pain but they won't reduce inflammation in the joint. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen aren't painkillers, but they are effective in reducing inflammation, which in turn can provide a certain degree of pain relief. For long term pain relief there are more radical measures available. NSAIDs are also used, but more commonly doctors prescribe hormones, steroids and DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) for modulating the immune response and reducing inflammation in general. Long term measures such as weight loss and physical therapy are also applied for pain management.