While there is no osteoarthritis cure, there are treatments that can ease the pain and help prevent more damage.

 

Specific treatment options can involve:

 

 

 

Osteoarthritis is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among adults. More than 20 million people in the United States have the disease. By 2030, an estimated 20 percent of Americans -- about 70 million people -- will have passed their 65th birthday and will be at risk of osteoarthritis. While some younger people get the condition as a result of joint injuries, it most often occurs in older people. In fact, more than half of the population age 65 or older would likely show x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis in at least one joint. Both men and women have the disease. Before age 45, more men than women have it; after age 45, it is more common in women.