Osteoarthritis (OA) is an arthritis that wears out the cartilage in your joints. The chronic condition can cause pain and swelling in the affected joints—usually the joints in your knees, hips and hands.
Osteoarthritis is cured when you consult special doctors. This may include a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in joints, muscles and bones. Physical and occupational therapists, nurses, primary care providers and pharmacists may be part of your team.2
Treatment options to help you manage your Osteoarthritis include lifestyle changes, mind-body therapies, medications and surgery.
Lifestyle Changes
Several treatment guidelines recommend lifestyle changes as the first step in treating osteoarthritis. These changes may work as well as pain relievers for Osteoarthritis.
Research shows that increasing physical activity and learning to self manage the condition reduces joint pain and stiffness, increases flexibility and awareness and understanding of Osteoarthritis.
Examples of physical activity you can do are water aerobics, walking and strength training. Being physically active can also help you manage your weight which can improve Osteoarthritis symptoms.
You can learn more ways to self manage Osteoarthritis by attending education sessions that cover topics like goal setting, positive thinking, stress management and fatigue management.
Mind-Body Therapies
Research shows that mind-body therapies can improve your strength and balance and reduce your risk of falling due to Osteoarthritis. These activities can also boost your mood.1
Mind-body therapies try to relax the mind and body by working on mental focus, controlled breathing and body movements.6 Examples of mind-body activities are tai-chi and yoga.
Tai chi is recommended for people with Osteoarthritis especially those with Osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. More research is needed to recommend yoga for Osteoarthritis management but it looks promising.
Medications
There are no medications that can stop, slow or reverse Osteoarthritis. Instead the goal of medication in Osteoarthritis is to manage symptoms.
Pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications and injections are given to people with Osteoarthritis.
Before you start taking medications, share your medical history with your care team. You can take Osteoarthritis medication with lifestyle changes and mind-body activities.
Pain Relievers and Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Medications that relieve pain and reduce inflammation are the most commonly used drugs in Osteoarthritis treatment.
NSAIDs come in different forms, creams and gels you apply directly on your skin (topical) or tablets you take by mouth (oral). Topical NSAIDs should be considered before oral NSAIDs in knee Osteoarthritis since the drug can be applied directly to the affected area.
NSAIDs can be OTC or prescription. NSAIDs that help with Osteoarthritis are Aleve (naproxen), Celebrex (celecoxib), ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and diclofenac (Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel and Pennsaid).
These medications give temporary relief and must be used regularly for pain and swelling. Check with your healthcare provider how long you should take them; long term NSAID use has been linked to stroke and heart attack.12
NSAIDs are generally safe for most people. (Some people, including those with liver or kidney issues, can’t take NSAIDs.) Common side effects are stomach upset, gas or reflux. Your healthcare provider may recommend adding medication to help with those or changing medication.13
Injections
Corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid are the two injections used to help with Osteoarthritis. Your healthcare provider may recommend this for Osteoarthritis of the knee or hip that doesn’t respond to other anti-inflammatory medication. Only a healthcare provider can give these injections. You may feel the effects for up to 12 weeks or more.
Triamcinolone (Zilretta and Kenalog) is a corticosteroid injection. Hyaluronic acid injections are Durolane and Synvisc-One.
Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections reduce inflammation and pain. People may experience a reaction at the injection site.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have diabetes as the corticosteroid injection may raise your blood sugar (glucose).1415
Medications and supplements that increase bleeding risk such as NSAIDs, vitamin E and fish oils can make side effects like pain and swelling at the injection site worse. Ask your provider if you should adjust your medication before your injection appointment.14
Surgery
Your healthcare provider may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgery options if your Osteoarthritis gets worse or doesn’t respond to other treatments. Surgery is usually for people with severe Osteoarthritis who can’t move or do daily activities without help.
The orthopedic surgeon will review your medical history and take x-rays of your joints before surgery. They’ll also look at the location and damage of the affected joint. Surgery gives long term relief but total recovery can take several months to a year.
Surgery options are osteotomy and arthroplasty.
Osteotomy
Osteotomy is usually done for Osteoarthritis of the knee. The surgeon makes an incision in one of the bones above or below your kneecap.
Femoral osteotomy is when the surgery is done on the thigh bone above the knee cap. Tibial osteotomy is when the surgery is done on the shin bone below the knee cap. Adjusting the bone above or below the knee joint helps realign the knee and take stress off the damaged joint.
Arthroplasty
Arthroplasty can be done on the hip or knee joints. The surgeon replaces the damaged parts of the joint with an artificial joint. This improves joint function and movement and can get you back to doing your daily activities.
Prognosis
How much Osteoarthritis affects you depends on which joints are involved, your symptoms and how much your function is limited. Some people are mildly affected by Osteoarthritis while others are severely disabled.20
While it can sometimes progress quickly, Osteoarthritis joint damage usually develops slowly. If you don’t treat your Osteoarthritis, the joint damage will continue until your pain is severe and your mobility or function is greatly impaired. Treating your Osteoarthritis can reduce pain and loss of function.2
Living with and Managing Osteoarthritis
There’s no cure for Osteoarthritis but you can manage its symptoms to improve or maintain your quality of life. Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and keep your appointments to better manage your OA.
If you need them, assistive devices are available to make moving and doing tasks easier. Simple devices are jar openers, grabbers and shoe horns. More complex devices that require installation or are more expensive are raised toilet seat, tub bars and handrails.
If you want to talk to someone who has Osteoarthritis ask your doctor for recommendations of support groups in person or online.
Summary
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It’s a chronic condition that causes joint pain and swelling but can be managed with a combination of treatments.
Osteoarthritis treatment options are exercise, mind-body activities, medications and surgery. Follow your treatment plan to reduce pain and mobility.
