Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative condition affecting the joints. About 27 million people in the U.S. have some form of OA, which is a breakdown of joint cartilage that can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness. OA is a long-term, incurable disease; you can't reverse its effects, but you can learn strategies and options for managing your symptoms.
Osteoarthritis is common as we age, but it can also happen to younger people (even teens!) who've suffered significant wear and tear in their joints due to sports injuries. OA can happen to any joint in the body, but it's most common in:
How do you know if you have OA? Specific symptoms vary depending on the location, but generally can include:
Though it may seem counterintuitive when you're in pain and have stiffness and mobility issues, moving and staying active are very important parts of treating arthritis.
Studies show that exercise can reduce pain and keep your weight under control. Keeping at a healthy weight means less wear and tear on your joints (especially spine, hips, knees, and feet/ankles).
Strengthening and stretching the muscles around your OA-affected joints can have several other benefits:
Examples of gentle, low-impact exercises that may be suitable for arthritis patients include:
Many other activities may work for you, depending on your condition, general health, and age. Whatever activity you choose, try to exercise 150 minutes per week, and talk to a doctor first about helping you devise a safe and beneficial exercise program.
For many, treating arthritis symptoms is a multi-pronged approach that includes a combination of movement therapies (exercise, yoga, stretching, etc.) and medication.
There is no one "best pain reliever for osteoarthritis" — every patient is different. Talk to your doctor about which of the following medication approaches may work best for you:
Talk to your doctor about benefits, side effects, and interactions with any other medications you may be taking.
The decision to treat osteoarthritis with surgery is a personal one. Pain tolerances vary and people have different feelings about what is an acceptable and endurable amount of discomfort and disability.
If you are considering surgery, you might benefit if you meet the following criteria.
Depending on factors like your age, activity level, general health, and of course the location of osteoarthritis in your body, you have different options for surgical treatment of arthritis.
Arthroscopic surgery can help some patients to move their joints better. In this minimally invasive procedure, your orthopedist will use a scope with a camera to see inside your joint. Tiny surgical instruments can be inserted to smooth over rough areas and remove loose cartilage or bone that may be causing pain or inflammation. Arthroscopy is frequently performed on the knee, shoulder, ankle, and wrist.
Hip resurfacing (arthroplasty) is often used for people with serious hip damage and pain who are not ready for, or do not yet need, an entire hip replacement. This procedure is most often performed on people under the age of 60. An orthopedist can replace only the damaged surfaces of the bone (ball or socket, or both) with a metal, plastic, or ceramic surface.
Osteotomy, like hip resurfacing, corrects specific defects without replacing the entire joint. In this procedure, your orthopedist will remove or add a piece of bone to your damaged joint to help shift your body weight to an area where there is more healthy cartilage. Osteotomy is most often used to treat arthritis in the hip and knee, usually in active people under 60 who wish to delay more serious surgery like joint replacement.
In this procedure, your orthopedist fuses two eroded bones together to form one larger segment of bone. This eliminates the joint, preventing bending. To stimulate healing and secure the fusion, surgery may require bone grafts or the insertion of implants like plates, wires, or screws.
Joint fusion is often used to treat arthritis in the vertebrae (spine), ankles, hands, and feet. Less often, doctors can fuse knees and hips as well. Fusion may help to reduce your pain, but you will lose a certain degree of mobility. Your doctor may pair your joint fusion with bone growth stimulation therapy to help speed your recovery.