What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother is 67 years old and was recently admitted to the ER because of chest pains. She also had hyperacidity at that time, vomited food once the previous day, and had 1 episode of dark stool the night before. She is taking Losartan 50 mg occasionally, and Naproxen as well for her osteoarthritis about once a week, when joint pains become intolerable. Blood work while in ER showed her Hb level was 4.6 and had then undergone a transfusion of 2 blood bags. Two days now after discharge, she had a fever that subsided after taking Paracetamol, but now has returned. She also complains of headaches and her condition is aggravated by osteoarthritis in her feet which started only after she had gone home from the hospital. Please can you advise what should we do immediately? She is unable to walk right now and is in pain because of her osteoarthritis.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query.

I understand your concern. We have to rule out the possibilities like gastric bleeding or other systemic problems for the cause of anemia. Gastric ulcers and erosions may occur due to NSAIDs like Naproxen so reduce such tablets. Check her ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), iron level, ferritin, peripheral smear, and protein electrophoresis to rule out other causes.

I hope this has helped you. Thank you.