Approaches to Pain Management

Common treatments for OA knee pain include:

Non-drug treatments:

• Avoiding activities that cause excess pain in your joints
• Exercise
• Physical therapy
  

Drug therapy:

• Painkillers such as acetaminophen and narcotics
• Drugs that reduce inflammation, such as aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen
• Corticosteroids that are injected directly into the joint
  

Joint fluid therapy (SUPARTZ):

• An injection of fluid containing the lubricating, shock-absorbing substances that are diminished or absent in the osteoarthritic knee.

Knee replacement surgery:

• The removal of damaged bone and cartilage surrounding the patient’s knee and the implantation of an artificial knee.

What is the appropriate treatment for you?

The American College of Rheumatology recommends a sequence of treatments depending on the severity of pain caused by OA. It begins with simple exercise and over-the-counter painkillers. When these are no longer adequate, joint fluid therapy is advised. The next step is stronger pharmaceutical treatments. Finally, knee surgery is recommended.

Treatment for OA focuses on decreasing pain and improving joint movement. When pain from osteoarthritis is not alleviated by exercise, physical therapy or simple painkillers, joint fluid therapy can provide pain relief without the risks and side effects that come with knee surgery or drug treatments.