Being diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis—like ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis—can seem like being thrown into a world made of cryptic letters. Acronyms are everywhere. Acronyms for types of arthritis like RA, AS, SpA, JIA; acronyms for tests like RF, ESR, CRP; acronyms for treatments like NSAID, DMARD, MTX—it seems to never end! Let’s unravel some of these tricky terms, starting with common drugs you might hear about to treat arthritis. Soon you’ll be using them like a pro! OTC OTC (over-the-counter) medications don’t require a prescription from your doctor. In the US, some fairly effective first-line arthritis treatments are available OTC, such as ibuprofen (Motrin)…