When arthritis aches set in, are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) your go-to medicines? These pain-relieving drugs are the most popular treatment for arthritis pain, and for good reason-they work. Yet oral NSAIDs, which travel throughout the body, come with some potential side effects, such as ulcers that can cause bleeding. Topical medicines, especially for hand and knee arthritis, are as effective in certain cases as oral medications, says Jason Genin, DO, an orthopaedic sports medicine specialist at Cleveland Clinic.
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