Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that primarily affects the cartilage, which serves as a cushion and protective layer between the bones in the joints. While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, several treatments are available to manage its symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by this condition. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the osteoarthritis, the affected joints, and the patient's overall health. Below I will discuss various options to help manage the symptoms of osteoarthritis while avoiding surgery.

Lifestyle Modifications:

1. Weight management: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the stress on weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, potentially slowing the progression of osteoarthritis and reducing the pain you feel.

2. Exercise: Physical activity helps improve joint flexibility, muscle strength, and overall joint function. Low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, and stationary cycling are often recommended. We may combine independent exercises with formal physical therapy to maximize these benefits.

3. Physical therapy: These therapies can provide specific exercises and techniques to improve joint function, reduce pain, and enhance mobility.

Medications:

1. Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help reduce pain and is generally well tolerated with minimal side effects

2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help manage pain and also reduce inflammation. While NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation in the affected joint and may be more effective than Tylenol alone.

   1. Examples: Celebrex (Celecoxib), Mobic (Meloxicam), Voltaren (Diclofenac), Motrin (Ibuprofen), Aleve (Naproxen)

3. Topical treatments: Creams, gels, and patches containing NSAIDs, capsaicin, menthol, and lidocaine may be applied directly to the affected joint for localized relief.

Assistive Devices:

1. Knee braces may be recommended to provide support and reduce joint strain. While using assistive devices (e.g. a cane or walker) can allow you to use your upper body and better leg to help offload the affected joint.

Intra-articular Injections:

1. Corticosteroid injections can provide pain relief by reducing inflammation in the joint. They often provide limited relief, but are the gold-standard for joint injections for arthritis treatment all over the body.

2. Hyaluronic acid injections can provide lubrication and reduce pain in the knee joint by restoring the natural joint fluid.

3. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and stem cell therapies are emerging treatments that aim to promote tissue healing and reduce inflammation. Their benefit in patients with more severe osteoarthritis is not as well proven in the published literature.