There are several types of over-the-counter topical pain relievers, including salicylates, capsaicin, anesthetics, and CBD topicals, and each type has pros and cons. Topical pain relievers tend to have fewer side effects than oral pain medications.

References

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A large clinical study involving more than 110,000 people suggests a connection between oral antibiotic use and the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

References

• 1.Sultan AA, Mallen C, Muller S, et al. Antibiotic use and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based case-control study. BMC Med. 2019;17(1):154. Published 2019 Aug 7. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1394-6
• 2.Silman AJ, Hochberg MC. Epidemiology of the rheumatic diseases. 2nd edition: Oxford University Press; 2001
• 3.Sacks JJ, Luo YH, Helmick CG. Prevalence of specific types of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the ambulatory health care system in the United States, 2001-2005. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010;62(4):460-4.

Selecting the right prescription medications for post-surgical pain is an important part of the pain management strategy.

References

• 1.American Society of Anesthesiologists. Hip And Knee Replacement Patients Using Fewer Opioids To Manage Pain After Surgery.; 2017. Available at: https://www.asahq.org/about-asa/newsroom/news-releases/2017/10/hip-and-knee-replacement-patients-using-fewer-opioids-to-manage-pain-after-surgery. Accessed April 11, 2018.

A large analysis of several studies reveals the most effective medical treatments for relieving the pain of knee osteoarthritis.

References

• 1."Comparative Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Interventions for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis." Ann Intern Med. 2015 Jan 6; 162(1):46-54.

If you take medications for your rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, some of them may be raising your risk for shingles. Luckily, there's something you can do cut this risk.

References

• 1."Risks of Herpes Zoster in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis According to Biologic Disease Modifying Therapy." Arthritis Care & Research 2014 Sep 8. [Epub ahead of print]
• 2."Herpes zoster and tofacitinib therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis." Arthritis Rheumatol. 2014 Oct;66(10):2675-84.
• 3."Psoriatic arthritis treatment and the risk of herpes zoster." Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Sep 26. [Epub ahead of print]