Your Health

How To Manage Osteoarthritis On-the-Go

Posted: 1/7/2012

A Few simple steps can help people with osteoarthritis better manage pain.

(NAPSI)—Everyday activities, such as gardening or shopping, can be a challenge when you experience chronic osteoarthritis pain. Here are some small changes that may help you cope throughout the day when your joints are painful and stiff as a result of arthritis.

At work

When working, try to keep your feet flat on the floor and if necessary, use a footrest to support your feet.1 Many people spend a majority of the day sitting at a desk, so take frequent breaks from sitting and typing or holding the phone.1 Posture is also extremely important, so try using a lower back pillow for added support and try not to hunch your shoulders while seated.1

In the car

Use the car’s interior handles to balance yourself as you get into the car or to pull yourself up when getting out.2 Doing so may help you better manage arthritis pain. If your vehicle doesn’t have interior handles, consider installing grab handles.2 When entering the car, try backing into the car by sitting first and then swinging your legs in.2 You may also find that placing a plastic garbage bag on the seat can help you slide more easily into the car.2

At home

Adjust the way you carry items around the house. For example, carry smaller loads of laundry or trash and hold the items close to your body.3 Just as you would at work, take frequent breaks when doing household work that requires repetitive motions, like cooking or cleaning.3 Taking these small breaks gives your body a chance to rest.3

At your doctor’s office

There are several different types of arthritis. Ask your doctor about treatment options for arthritis pain. NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can effectively reduce the pain of arthritis. But NSAIDS can lead to potential stomach issues, which may keep you from taking the medicine you need.4 One option to consider is VIMOVO® (naproxen/esomeprazole magnesium) 375/20-500/20 mg delayed-release tablets. VIMOVO is a prescription medicine that combines a proven arthritis pain reliever with built-in medication that can help protect you from stomach issues common to NSAIDs and reduce the risk of developing stomach (gastric) ulcers.5

For additional simple steps to help you better manage your osteoarthritis pain, check out the Smart Moves Program on the ‘Getting Started’ tab at www.arthritissmartmoves.com. You can access more information about VIMOVO on this site as well.

Important Safety Information regarding VIMOVO

• Like all medications that contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), VIMOVO may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This chance increases

• With longer use of NSAID medicines

• In people who have heart disease

• NSAID-containing medications, such as VIMOVO, should never be used before or after a type of heart surgery called coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

• As with all medications that contain NSAIDs, VIMOVO may increase the chance of stomach and intestinal problems, such as bleeding or an ulcer, which can occur without warning and may cause death

• Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious gastrointestinal events

VIMOVO is not right for everyone, including patients who have had an asthma attack, hives, or other allergic reaction with aspirin or any other NSAID medicine, patients who are allergic to any of the ingredients in VIMOVO, or women in late stages of pregnancy.

Serious allergic reactions, including skin reactions, can occur without warning and can be life-threatening; discontinue use of VIMOVO at the first appearance of a skin rash, or if you develop sudden wheezing; swelling of the lips, tongue or throat; fainting; or problems swallowing.

VIMOVO should be used at the lowest dose and for the shortest amount of time as directed by your health care provider.

Tell your health care provider right away if you develop signs of active bleeding from any source.

VIMOVO can lead to onset of new hypertension or worsening of existing high blood pressure, either of which may contribute to an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Speak with your health care provider before starting VIMOVO if you

• Have a history of ulcers or bleeding in the stomach or intestines

• Have heart problems, high blood pressure, or are taking high blood pressure medications

• Have kidney or liver problems

Tell your health care provider about all of the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements before starting VIMOVO.

Talk to your health care provider about your risk for bone fractures if you take VIMOVO for a long period of time.

Talk to your health care provider about your risk for developing low levels of magnesium if you take VIMOVO for a long period of time.

The most common side effects of VIMOVO include: inflammation of the lining of the stomach, indigestion, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, abdominal pain, and nausea.

Approved Uses for VIMOVO

VIMOVO is approved to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis and to decrease the risk of stomach (gastric) ulcers in patients at risk of developing stomach ulcers from treatment with NSAIDs.

VIMOVO is not recommended as a starting treatment for relief of acute pain. Controlled studies do not extend beyond 6 months.

For further information on VIMOVO, please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warnings by visiting http://www1.astrazeneca-us.com/pi/vimovo.pdf.

1Arthritis Foundation. Arthritis in the Workplace. http://arcarthritisclinic.com/Documents/Workplace_brochure.pdf. Accessed June 10, 2011.

2Arthritis Today. How to Get In and Out of the Car. http://www.arthritistoday.org/daily-living/do-it-easier/on-the-road/arthritis-car-tips.php. Accessed June 10, 2011

3Arthritis Today. Smart Moves for Safe Cleaning. http://www.arthritistoday.org/daily-living/do-it-easier/around-the-house/safe-cleaning.php. Accessed June 10, 2011.

4American College of Gastroenterology. (ACG) Ulcer Physician Reference Guide. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/pdfs/ACGUlcerPhysRefGuide.pdf Accessed April 2009.

5Prescribing Information for VIMOVO. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, DE.