Those who have suffered from lupus (known as Systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) may experience real fatigue, skin rashes, or joint pains. Most people with lupus have joint pain (arthritis) at some time. About 70% of people with lupus report that joint and muscle pain was their first sign of the disease. Joints may be red and warm, and may swell. Morning stiffness may also be felt. Lupus arthritis often occurs on both sides of the body at the same time, particularly in the wrists, small joints of the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles. It is neccessary to have lupus pain treated before it spreads more severe complications.
Treatmens for the pain and stiffness of lupus can still be limited, some of the ways of handling arthritis work well for lupus. Depending on the specific type of lupus, doctors will ask patients to take medications in combination with some prevention methods.
- Take aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen known as Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are indicated for lupus pains.
- Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is a drug that many lupus patients take to prevent lupus flares.
- Prednisone or Sterapred (corticosteroids) be used to control severe arthritis and are considered the best drugs for treating pain caused by lupus myositis.
- Physical therapy. Physical and occupational therapy can help control lupus pain through exercises designed to keep muscles strong and to maintain the full motion of your joints. Physical therapy can also teach you ways to protect your joints from injury.
- Mind-body techniques. These treatments take advantage of your mind’s ability to influence physical symptoms. Breathing exercises, relaxation training, and meditation are all good ways of lowering stress, which can be an important part of your pain management plan.
- Massage. This treatment can be very relaxing and soothing, but it’s important to tell the massage therapist about your lupus diagnosis first. Ideally, the therapist should have experience working with lupus patients.
- Acupuncture. This ancient treatment has been used for nearly 2,500 years to help people manage a variety of health ailments. The National Institutes of Health has concluded that acupuncture is effective in relieving many types of pain including pain related to fibromyalgia. Although there is limited evidence regarding the use of acupuncture to treat lupus pain specifically, a recent study published in the journal Lupus found that even a few sessions of acupuncture may be effective in reducing pain in lupus patients.
At the same time following the treatments, want to prevent lupus inflammations being more severe, patients should avoid being too depressed, smoking, directly contacting sun light or high UV radiation.