Treatments

Osteoarthritis Treatments

Treatment for osteoarthritis (OA) depends on your symptoms, age and health. The severity of your OA also affects the treatment options. The goal of treatment is to ease joint pain and stiffness and to improve joint movement.

Your care team can explore risks, benefits and possible side effects of all treatments with you.

Treatment may include:

• Exercise. Regular exercise (including stretching and strength training) and low impact activity modification can help ease pain and stiffness.
• Physical therapy. Therapy can help ease joint pain, improve joint flexibility and reduce joint strain. Your care team may help you get fitted for assistive devices like canes or walkers.
• Weight management. Work with your care team to maintain a healthy weight can help ease or even stop symptoms.
• Medication or injections. Your care team may recommend or prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medicines. These can help ease symptoms.
• Surgery. Depending on your OA, you may need surgery to replace a joint.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Image guidance, such as ultrasound or computed tomography to guide a needle through the skin to the targeted area.

Living With OA

While there is no cure for OA, there are treatments and lifestyle changes to help keep your joints working. Together, you and your care team can develop a plan that works for you, including medication and therapy.

Some general lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of life include:

• Weight management. Keeping a healthy weight can help ease stress on your joints.
• Activity modification. Some activities, including stretching, can help ease joint pain and stiffness. Try low-impact activities like swimming, walking and range-of-motion movements.
• Use a cane or similar device. Assistive devices like canes and walkers can help ease stress on your joints. Your care team can help make sure the device is properly fitted for you.