The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis starts in the mechanics of joint movement. Injury, overuse, and time begin to break down the cartilage covering on bones where they meet in a joint.
Cartilage protects bone ends, creates a sliding surface for movement, and provides a cushioning layer. Without it, direct bone-on-bone contact is very painful.
Once damage from osteoarthritis occurs, your body can’t repair it. But with treatment, you can manage the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. The arthritis specialists at Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine can diagnose your condition, assess its progression, and recommend a treatment plan.
There are four osteoarthritis treatment approaches you’ll typically encounter.
More than 32 million Americans are struggling with symptoms of osteoarthritis. For most, the first goal of osteoarthritis treatment is managing the pain. This typically starts with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Because inflammation often accompanies osteoarthritis pain, doctors usually recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Acetaminophen can relieve pain, but it has no anti-inflammatory effects.
Prescription medications are stronger, but so are the potential side effects. Managing pain with medication is usually short-term or on an as-needed basis to minimize these side effects.
Corticosteroid injections can reduce severe pain as well as aggressively reducing swelling, but these, too, carry side effects. While their effects may last for months, there’s a limit to how many injections you can have per year.
It may seem counterintuitive to exercise the joints that cause you pain, but your body’s healing mechanisms depend on movement. The right kind of movement is important, which is where a physical therapist comes in. Exercises that support arthritic joints target muscles that take load off of joints that cause pain.
Occupational therapy can help you find alternate joint-friendly ways of performing regular tasks at home and at work.
Carrying extra pounds places additional strain on many joints. It’s not a one-to-one relationship, either. Carrying an extra 10 pounds adds between 30 and 60 pounds of additional force on your knees, a common location for osteoarthritis.
The flip side is also true: Lose those 10 pounds, and you relieve 30 to 60 pounds of force from your knees. Even modest weight loss provides big benefits for those with osteoarthritis.
Many surgical procedures aim at improving osteoarthritis conditions, depending on the joints involved. When cartilage deterioration reaches an advanced stage, we may recommend some form of joint replacement.
At Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we use the Mako® robotic arm system to provide unparalleled precision for your joint replacement procedure. Robotic arm assistance minimizes the amount of healthy tissue removed during the surgery, leading to better outcomes, including less postsurgical pain and faster recovery.
Conservative treatment can delay surgical intervention for years, and you have several options to consider. The sooner you seek treatment for osteoarthritis, the greater your chances are for successful management.
Contact the nearest location of Southern Westchester Orthopedics & Sports Medicine to arrange an assessment of your arthritis condition. You can call the most convenient office directly or use our online appointment request link. There’s a path away from pain. Let us help you find it.
