How to Treat Reactive Arthritis
Also called Reiter's Syndrome, reactive arthritis is a painful condition that causes swelling and pain in the joints as well as problems with the urinary tract and redness in the eyes. There is no cure for this condition, but knowing how to treat reactive arthritis and its symptoms is key to leading as healthy and normal a life as possible.
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Things You'll Need
- A prescription or non-prescription NSAID, such as ibuprofen.
- A hot water bottle or heating pad.
- Some help around the house.
Instructions
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Get Diagnosed. The only person who can diagnose you with reactive arthritis and put you on the right path to knowing how to treat reactive arthritis is a licensed medical professional. After you see a doctor you will have a much clearer understanding of how to proceed with treatment for this disorder.
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Start out small. When the pain first starts to come on, apply heat in the form of a heating pad or hot water bottle. Some people prefer the way that ice works for such pain but that is a matter of personal preference. Hot or cold is required to help keep down the swelling and to keep the pain under control.
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Pop a pill. Your doctor may prescribe something for your reactive arthritis. Many people who want to know how to treat reactive arthritis do pretty well with home treatments whereas others require more extensive pain control. A prescription NSAID (non-stimulatory anti-inflammatory drug) is usually used for arthritic conditions such as this.
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Take a load off. If you are doing your daily routine with this pain, you only stand the chance of making it worse. See if you can get some help around the house. If your job requires a lot of labor, you may need to take some time off of work. Aggravating the condition may be the worst thing you can do for yourself if it truly is reactive arthritis that you are suffering from.
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Continue to see a doctor. Whether the pain gets worse or gets better for you, a doctor is the only person who can prescribe an official course of treatment for Reiter's Syndrome. While many people want to know how to treat reactive arthritis from home without ever having to see a doctor, this can cause you to aggravate your own condition past the point where it is easily treated.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't sleep with a heating pad on your body. While a hot water bottle will cool off naturally, you risk a nasty burn by sleeping with an electric heating pad on the afflicted area.
Don't take any prescription or OTC medication for reactive arthritis without clearing it with a physician first.
