Treatments for Osteoarthritis

Treatments for osteoarthritis can include exercise, medicines, and other pain-relief options. Healthcare providers will often combine treatments to fit an individual patient's needs, lifestyle, and health. Some of the medicines that may be used to treat osteoarthritis include COX-2 inhibitors (such as celecoxib) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like meloxicam, naproxen sodium, and ibuprofen. Massage and water therapy are examples of non-drug methods of pain relief for osteoarthritis.
 

Treatments for Osteoarthritis: An Overview

Osteoarthritis damages the joints (or the places where two bones meet), making them stiff and painful. Sometimes the disease is so bad it can cripple a person. Osteoarthritis can strike at any age.
 
While there is no osteoarthritis cure, there are treatments for osteoarthritis that can ease the pain and improve function.
 
Osteoarthritis treatment plans can involve:
 
  • Exercise
  • Medicines
  • Other pain-relief options
  • Surgery
  • Alternative therapies.
     
Doctors often combine treatments to fit a patient's needs, lifestyle, and health.
 

Exercise as One Treatment for Osteoarthritis

Exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis.
 It can improve your mood and outlook, decrease pain, increase flexibility, and help you maintain a healthy weight.
 
The amount and form of exercise will depend on which joints are involved, how stable the joints are, whether or not the joints are swollen, and whether a joint replacement surgery has already been done. Ask your doctor or physical therapist what exercises are best for you and how often you should exercise.
 
It is recommended that people with osteoarthritis who are overweight or obese lose weight as part of their osteoarthritis treatment. Weight loss can reduce stress on weight-bearing joints and limit further injury. A dietitian can help patients develop healthy eating habits. A healthy diet and regular exercise help reduce weight.
 
(Click BMI Calculator to find out if your weight is within a healthy range.)
 
(Click Arthritis and Exercise for more information on how exercise can benefit people with osteoarthritis.)
 
(Treatments for Osteoarthritis Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD