First thing: arthritis specialists are rheumatologists. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, and over 200 different kinds of rheumatism. So good rheumatologists are very experimental in finding what works for you as an individual.
And getting “general” arthritis care from a G.P. is unlikely to have the best outcome. Cortisone injections, while still widely used, are a therapy from decades ago, in a field where research breakthroughs are happening almost monthly.
Before even getting started you have to know *exactly* what type of arthritis you are dealing with. Arthritis is an autoimmune problem, and diagnosing it properly is essential to find the best available therapies.
Importantly, the OTC treatments are just as likely to help as are pharma, and there are hundreds of them: from fruit juices to herbs and spices; all variety of supplements, etc. So you have to be very objective in finding out if they work for you. Trial and error.
Once you are down the rabbit hole of pharma things can become incredibly complex. But, if it works, it works. A lot of it they know it works, but don’t know why.
I’ve had cortisone shots in my knees, upgraded to Synvist to try and alleviate the pain, had a total knee replacement (left) 2 years ago and Wednesday they are going to do a total knee replacement for the right.
Twenty years of law enforcement takes a toll on a person. And yes, once you start “getting old” it’s like falling off a cliff. BUT..I’ll put up with the aches and pains rather than being horizontal and room temperature.