Osteoarthritis Health Center

Successful treatment of osteoarthritis usually involves a combination of therapy's geared to fit the individual patient's needs, lifestyle and health. Most treatment plans are made to manage pain and improve function.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) lists four main goals of osteoarthritis treatment:

  • Control of pain
  • Improvement in joint function
  • Maintenance of normal body weight
  • Achievement of a healthy lifestyle

According to NIAMS, these goals are achieved through six primary treatment approaches:

  • Exercise
  • Weight control
  • Rest and relief from stress on joints
  • Medications to control pain
  • Non-medication pain relief techniques and complementary or alternative therapies (CAM)
  • Surgery

Exercise

Research has shown that exercise is one of the best ways to treat osteoarthritis. Exercise can address factors that lead to osteoarthritis, the symptoms of osteoarthritis and conditions associated with osteoarthritis. Patients with osteoarthritis exercise to reduce pain, increase flexibility, strengthen the heart and improve blood flow, lose excess weight that puts stress on joints and to boost physical fitness in general. Exercise is a great osteoarthritis treatment not only because it's cheap, but also because it has few negative side effects.

The following types of exercises are commonly used to treat osteoarthritis:

  • Aerobic activities like walking or swimming are low-impact exercises that keep the heart strong and the lungs and circulatory system in shape.
  • Strengthening exercises help build muscles that support arthritic joints. These exercises can be done with weights or other devices that add resistance.
  • Range-of-motion or stretching activities help keep joints limber and prevent stiffness.
  • Balance and agility exercises help patients maintain the ability to do tasks of daily living.

The type and amount of exercise recommended for a person with osteoarthritis depends on the affected joints, amount of joint damage and whether that person has had a joint replacement. If you have osteoarthritis, work with your doctor and/or physical therapist to develop an exercise plan tailored just for you.

Weight Control

Being overweight or obese puts added stress on the joints. So, if you have osteoarthritis, it's important to maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight and have osteoarthritis, losing weight can reduce joint stress, reduce further damage to joints, boost mobility and lower the risk of related health problems. Work with your doctor and/or dietitian to develop a healthy diet and exercise plan to help you lose weight.

Rest and Relief from Stress on Joints

A major part of managing osteoarthritis is to make time to rest. Osteoarthritis patients must pay attention to what their body tells them and know when to slow down or stop activity in order to prevent overexerting their joints. While some patients find it hard to sleep through the night because of joint pain, it's important that people with osteoarthritis get proper sleep. If joint pain is making it hard for you to sleep through the night, you might try relaxation and stress reducing techniques and timing medications to give you the most pain relief through the night. Talk to your doctor if osteoarthritis is disrupting your sleep.

There are a variety of devices that people with osteoarthritis use to provide relief to their joints. Some patients use special footwear and insoles to reduce pain, and some use canes to take stress off of painful joints. Splints and braces are also used to provide extra support to affected joints. However, splints should be used only for a limited time, as restricting movement for too long can make the joints and muscles stiff and weak. If you need a splint, talk to your doctor or occupational therapist to get one that fits properly.

Medications to Control Pain

Doctors prescribe medications to people with osteoarthritis to reduce pain and improve function. When deciding which medication to give an osteoarthritis patient, a doctor has to consider many factors, including pain levels, possible medication side effects, the patient's medical history and other medications the patient is taking.

If you have osteoarthritis, it's important to tell your doctor about your medication and health history. Certain medications interact poorly with others, so tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. Your doctor also needs to know your medical history, as some conditions may put you at risk for medication side effects.

Here's a list of medications commonly used to treat osteoarthritis:

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers: Medications like Tylenol (acetaminophen) are frequently the first choice to relieve arthritis pain.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These medications are a mainstay of arthritis treatment and often the first medication used to treat arthritis. NSAIDs are used to reduce both pain and inflammation. Some well-known examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. While some NSAIDs are over-the-counter medications, many others are avaiable only with a prescription. All NSAIDs carry a risk for side effects. Researchers are still trying to understand why some patients respond better to one NSAID instead of another. If you are taking an NSAID, see your doctor on a regular basis and report any side effects you may have.
  • Narcotic or central acting agents: Tramadol is a prescription pain reliever and synthetic opioid. This medication, which is sometimes prescribed when over-the-counter medications don't provide enough relief, works by blocking pain signals in the body. Unlike NSAIDs and acetaminophen, tramadol carries a potential risk for addiction. Other mild narcotic pain relievers like codeine or hydrocodone are also used to treat pain in patients with osteoarthritis. However, these medications may lead to dependence or addiction, so doctors usually prescribe them for short-term use.
  • Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are hormones made either naturally in the body or by man for use in medications. These hormones work to fight inflammation and are generally prescribed as a short-term treatment.
  • Hyaluronic acid substitutes: Hyaluronic acid substitutes are used to replace a normal part of the joint involved in joint lubrication and nutrition. These medications are approved only to treat osteoarthritis of the knee.
  • Other medications: A number of other medications are used to treat people with osteoarthritis. These medications may include creams, rubs or sprays applied to the skin over painful joints.

Surgery

Doctors may recommend surgery to relieve pain and disability in osteoarthritis patients when other treatments have failed. Surgery is usually performed with at least one of the following reasons:

  • To remove loose pieces of bone and cartilage from the joint (arthroscopic debridement)
  • To reposition bones (osteotomy)
  • To smoothe out bones (joint resurfacing)

In some cases, osteoarthritis patients may undergo joint replacement surgery in which an affected joint is replaced with an artificial joint. These artificial joints can be made from metal, plastic and ceramic materials, and may last for 10 to 15 years or longer.

It's no small decision to choose surgery for osteoarthritis. That decision depends on many factors, including the patient's age, occupation, level of disability, pain levels and how much arthritis disrupts lifestyle.

Review Date: 
June 29, 2012
Last Updated:
July 21, 2014
Source:
dailyrx.com