Arthritis pain can be highly debilitating. Even if your condition is a mild one, the aches and pains in your joints can interfere with your daily activities to a large extent. Fortunately, you have quite a few choices out there for dealing with arthritis pain. However you need to know what you're doing before you start popping pills, so the first thing to do is visit your doctor before beginning to take medicine for arthritis pain. If you suffer from arthritis and have pain associated with it, you need to be aware of the fact that many pain killers used in the treatment of arthritis can have adverse side-effects if taken over long periods of time.

Most doctors will recommend that you first try an over the counter NSAID medicine for arthritis pain relief. If you have mild arthritis, non-prescription pain relief medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can provide you with satisfactory pain relief. This is best if you only have occasional arthritic pain.

As well, a multitude of topical creams and lotions are available for the treatment of arthritis pain, and are particularly effective for osteoarthritis treatment. These creams go right through the skin and penetrate into the joints to ease the discomfort. If you have just mild to moderate arthritis you can use an over the counter topical cream like Ben Gay, for which no prescription is needed. You can apply the creams many times a day as needed, unlike oral medicine for arthritis pain. Another advantage is that the pain relief that topical creams deliver is instant and they can be used alongside oral pain medication. However it is critical to consult your medical provider prior to combining any medications.

Another choice you may want to consider when choosing medicine for arthritis pain is corticosteroids, which contain both anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. These medications can be taken in a variety of ways, including orally or by injection. Methotrexate is another rarer option that is sometimes used. If you find that none of the other treatment methods are working for you, your physician may turn to this option.

You should talk to your doctor before you take any non-prescription medicine for arthritis pain. Some over the counter medicines can lead to liver problems or worsen an existing condition. Be sure to check that all of your medications are okay to take together in order to avoid any ill effects to your health. Your doctor can provide valuable advice in determining how to get the safest, most effective form of arthritis relief.