By JointReplacement.com

Treatments for Osteoarthritis focus on ways to manage pain and improve the function of the joints so that people can perform daily tasks. Some examples of osteoarthritis treatment include exercise and weight control, physical therapy, medicines, surgery, and nontraditional approaches such as holistic or natural remedies. Most successful treatments involve a combination of methods tailored to patient needs, lifestyle, and health. Before beginning any treatment program, Osteoarthritis sufferers should discuss the options with their doctor(s) to determine the best treatment for them.

Millions of Osteoarthritis sufferers are dissatisfied with their current treatments, according to the results of a new national survey released by NCOA. The survey found that 43% of OA sufferers have stopped using their arthritis prescription medications in the last year. At the same time, there has been a small but notable increase in those OA patients ages 50-65 who are pursuing alternative therapies such as relaxation techniques, weight loss, physical therapy, herbs/natural remedies, and nutritional supplements.

Exercise, Rest, and Joint Care

Research shows that exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis.¹ Exercise can improve mood and outlook, decrease pain, increase flexibility, improve the heart and blood flow, help maintain weight, and promote general physical fitness. At the same time, treatment must include regularly scheduled rest. OA sufferers must learn to recognize the body's signals, and know when to stop or slow down, to prevent pain caused by overexertion. If you or your loved one suffers from osteoarthritis, be sure to discuss an exercise program with a healthcare professional before starting.

Weight Control

Osteoarthritis patients who are overweight or obese are advised to lose weight. A healthy diet can facilitate weight loss resulting in reduced stress on weight-bearing joints and limiting further injury.

Non-Drug Pain Relief

People with Osteoarthritis may find non-drug ways to help relieve pain. Warm towels, hot packs, or a warm bath or shower may help relieve pain and stiffness. In some cases, cold packs (a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel) can relieve pain or numb the affected area. Water therapy in a heated pool or whirlpool also may relieve pain and stiffness. For Osteoarthritis in the knee, people may wear insoles or cushioned shoes to redistribute weight and reduce joint stress.

Medicines

Doctors consider a number of factors when recommending medicines – whether over-the-counter or prescription – for their patients with Osteoarthritis. Patients must use medicines carefully and tell their doctors about any changes that occur. Medicines commonly used in treating Osteoarthritis include acetaminophen, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), topical pain-relieving creams, rubs and sprays (for example, capsaicin cream), which are applied directly to the skin, mild narcotic painkillers, corticosteroids, and hyaluronic acid. Many medicines used to treat Osteoartrhris have side effects, so it is important for patients to learn about the medicines they take.

Surgery

When osteoarthritis occurs, small pieces of cartilage may wear away from the joint surfaces and float around the inside of the joint. This joint debris may cause inflammation and pain. In certain cases of arthritis, your doctor may suggest arthroscopy to remove the debris, clean up the joint, and provide pain relief.

Osteotomy is a procedure in which the bone is cut, either above or below the affected joint, and re-aligned to a better position. An osteotomy is often used for younger people where the limb is not straight and the cartilage wear is confined to one part of the joint. Unfortunately, the success of this operation decreases as the degree of arthritis and deformity increases.

Total Joint Replacement (TJR) can help relieve pain and increase patient mobility by resurfacing the damaged joint with metal and plastic implants. For those with severe OA who are no longer achieving pain relief from over-the-counter drugs, prescription medications or other non-surgical treatments, TJR is an alternative treatment for OA. TJR can help people suffering with severe OA to resume routine movements of everyday life, such as climbing stairs, tying shoes and getting up from a chair. It can also allow them to resume work and the activities they love. All surgeries have risks, so it is important for patients to talk to their doctors about available surgical treatments. For more information about joint replacement surgery, you may want to visit www.hipreplacement.com or www.kneereplacement.com.

According to the recent NCOA survey, three in four patients are interested in more aggressive treatments for their OA. People with severe OA should initiate conversation with their doctor about how OA is impacting their lives and let their doctor know when non-surgical treatments are no longer effective for them. Joint replacement may be recommended to help alleviate pain and restore mobility. It is important to remember there is not one joint implant that is right for every patient. Implant selection involves a number of medical considerations, and only a surgeon can determine which implant is right for each patient.