An ideal osteoarthritis treatment plan combines medications, non-drug therapies and lifestyle changes. The GOAL of treatment is to minimize pain, MAXIMIZE joint flexibility and help a person cope with this DEGENERATIVE disease. Most important--people with OA need to STAY ACTIVE. Aerobic AND muscle-strengthening exercises are essential. AEROBIC exercises-and, of course, a well-balanced DIET-- help maintain a healthy weight. Extra pounds increases STRESS placed on the knees and hips. MUSCLE-STRENGTHENING exercises help support ailing joints. A PHYSICAL THERAPIST can teach you which movements will help reduce pain and increase mobility. But if physical therapy isn't working after 6 weeks of treatment, it probably won't help at all. To relieve IMMEDIATE pain, people with OA often apply a simple heat or cold pack. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation-better known as TENS-- is a SHORT-TERM, pain management technique. A weak electrical current is transmitted through the skin, which stops pain messages from damaged hips or knee joints from reaching the brain. MEDICATIONS are probably the BEST way to relieve pain. People with OA may take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen to relieve pain. These meds, part of a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, decrease pain and INFLAMMATION. Acetaminophen, a.k.a. Tylenol, only lessens pain, not inflammation. And...there are TOPICAL NSAIDs and capsaicin creams that may be effective in relieving joint pain as well. If OA pain is SEVERE, a doctor may inject corticosteroids into your joints to temporarily relieve pain. BUT, your doctor will only give you injections a couple times a year--- too much will PRODUCE additional joint damage.Finally, when OA is unbearable, patients will undergo surgery to either repair, reposition, resurface or completely REPLACE an affected joint. The type of surgery depends on a person's age, lifestyle, job and level of need. To learn more about joint pain, check out other videos in this series.