Osteoarthritis treatment normally includes occupational or physical therapy, workouts, drugs, and sometimes surgery to adjust joint damage. Knee osteoarthritis treatments can assist alleviate pain and stiffness, but the illness may continue to progress. The same was true for rheumatoid arthritis in the past. But treatments in late years have been able to slow or stop advancement of joint damage. The duration and intensity level of pain and discomfort depend on the type of arthritis and the degree of severity.

Conventional Medicine

In the case of localized pain, stiffness, and fixedness, the typical three-stage osteoarthritis treatment constitutes of medication to alleviate pain and redness, rest to let hurt tissues heal themselves, and workout to rebuild mobility and strength.

Joint Protection

Learning to protect the joints is a significant part of osteoarthritis treatment. With the assist of an occupational therapist, one can learn easier ways to do the normal activities, such as fending off positions that strain the joints, using the strongest joints and muscles while giving up weaker ones, assuming braces or supports for some joints and utilizing grab bars in the bath, modified door knobs, canes or walkers, as well as utilizing equipments to assist the individual with tasks such as opening the jars or pulling up the socks and zippers. The individual's doctor may suggest pain relievers linked with regimens of heat, rest and exercise, physical therapy, and controlled application of deep heat to soothe affected joints.

Arthritis Medication

To bring down pain and inflammation in mild cases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, the individual doctor will possibly prescribe aspirin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen. The doctor may also recommend acetaminophen for osteoarthritis treatment. In more advanced cases, the doctor may suggest corticosteroid joint injections - strong anti-inflammatories - to alleviate the pain and stiffness of arthritic joints.

Based on the individual, results vary from temporary relief to long-lasting suppression of indications. Doctors are also utilizing hyaluronate gel-like solutions in joint injections to further restore the cushion and lubricating properties of normal joint fluid thereby minimizing pain. Some examples are Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz, and Orthovisc.

In the early 1900s, researchers ascertained that certain compounds having gold, given orally or by injection, gave alleviation to some people who have rheumatoid arthritis and made total remission in others. Note, however, that because the fall outs of osteoarthritis treatment can vary from minor skin rash to serious blood and kidney disorders, this treatment is normally approached with care.