A 64-year old female presents with increased stiffness and pain in the joints of her hands. She is a retired factory worker, previous smoker and has been overweight most of her adult life. What might be 4-5 different differential diagnoses?
You diagnose your patient with osteoarthritis after performing a history and physical. Pertinent findings included Bouchard's and Heberden's nodes. No additional work up was needed. The client had previously taken aspirin for her symptoms that she described as helpful but much like the Naprosyn prescribed by you caused her GI distress.What are other Pharmacologic treatment options at this point and explain the rationale and mechanism of action.