Osteoarthritis treatments
Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, a number of treatments are available.
The main aims of treatment are to:
- improve movement;
- control pain; and
- achieve a healthy body weight and a healthy lifestyle.
Treatment options may include exercise, weight control, medication and surgery.
Exercise
Exercise can help to improve function and reduce pain in osteoarthritis. There are different types of exercise, including strengthening exercises (which strengthen the muscles around the joint), range-of-motion exercises (which help keep the joints mobile) and aerobic exercises (which improve cardiovascular fitness).
Exercise programmes need to be tailored to the individual, depending on your age, general fitness and other medical problems. Your doctor or physiotherapist will advise you as to what exercises you should do.
Weight control
People with osteoarthritis who are overweight should try to lose weight. This will help to reduce the stress on weight-bearing joints such as the hip and knee.
Regular exercise as well as a healthy diet can help with weight control.
Medication
A number of medicines are available for relieving pain in osteoarthritis, including both over-the-counter and prescription medicines. A lot of research is being conducted to see if medication can not only reduce pain and inflammation but also modify the disease process in osteoarthritis.
Paracetamol is the medicine of first choice for treating pain in osteoarthritis. If the pain doesn’t respond to paracetamol, an oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or COX-2 inhibitor may be prescribed.
However, because of side effects, not all people are able to take anti-inflammatory medicines. These medicines should be used at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time. Topical NSAIDs in the form of creams or gels are also available.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are also widely used for symptom relief in osteoarthritis.
Sometimes a corticosteroid injection may be given into the joint to reduce inflammation. Hyaluronic acid may sometimes be injected into the joint to treat the pain in osteoarthritis of the knee.
Strong analgesics (painkillers) are available on prescription for severe pain in osteoarthritis that hasn’t responded to other treatments.
Surgery
Joint replacement surgery, such as hip or knee replacement, may be recommended in cases in which medical therapies haven’t been effective in managing pain and disability.
Your doctor will advise you as to what treatment is most appropriate in your case.
Last Reviewed: 20 April 2007
