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Orthopedic Affiliates Joint and Sports Medicine Center, Concord, Westford, Groton, Berlin, Hudson, MA / Joint Diseases / Treatment Options

Treatment Options

Following the orthopaedic evaluation, the orthopaedic specialist will review and discuss the results with you. Based on his or her diagnosis, your treatment options may include:

Non Surgical Options

Diet & Exercise

  • Average American is 20–40 lbs. overweight.
  • Average person takes 5000–7000 steps/day.
  • Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints (extra pressure on some joints may aggravate your arthritis).
  • A balanced diet helps manage weight and stay healthy.

ROM Exercises

  • Maintains normal joint movement.
  • Increases flexibility.
  • Relieves stiffness.

Strengthening Exercises

  • Increasing muscle strength helps support and protect joints affected by arthritis.
  • Exercise is an important part of arthritis treatment that is most effective when done properly and routinely.

Aerobic Exercise

  • Improve cardiovascular fitness.
  • Helps control weight.
  • May help reduce inflammation in joints.

Rest & Joint Care

  • Short-term bed rest helps reduce both joint inflammation and pain, and is especially useful when multiple joints are affected and fatigue is a major problem.
  • Individual joint rest is most helpful when arthritis involves one or only a few joints.
  • Heat Therapy (increases blood flow, tolerance for pain, flexibility).
  • Cold Therapy — cold packs, ice massage, OTC sprays and ointments (reduces pain by numbing the nerves around the joint).

Physical Therapy

The goal is to get you back to the point where you can perform normal, everyday activities without difficulty.

  • Preserving good range of motion is key to maintaining the ability to perform daily activities.
  • Physical therapists provide exercises designed to preserve the strength and use of your joints.
    • Show you the best way to move from one position to another.
    • Teach you how to use walking aids.

Walking Aids

Your doctor may recommend a cane, walker or brace.

Medications

  • Analgesics, pain relievers, may provide temporary relief of arthritis pain. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are traditional pain relievers.
  • Topical pain relievers are another option. Over-the-counter patches, rubs and ointments can provide quick pain relief for people with arthritis that is in just a few joints — such as a hand — or whose pain isn't severe.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine and chondroitin may relieve joint pain.

  • Occur in the body naturally; vital to normal cartilage function.
  • Researchers are also studying chondroitin for use in making medicines more effective and helping to prevent blood clots (anticoagulant).
  • Not FDA approved.
  • Warrant further in-depth studies on their safety and effectiveness, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
  • May help osteoarthritis pain and improve function.1, 2

Some studies indicate that glucosamine may help as much as ibuprofen in relieving symptoms of osteoarthritis, particularly in the knee, with fewer side effects.3

Side Effects

These arthritis supplements are generally well tolerated. However, side effects can occur. The most commonly reported side effects are:

  • Nausea.
  • Diarrhea or constipation.
  • Heartburn.
  • Increased intestinal gas.

Cortisone

Cortisone injection may provide temporary relief.

Visco-Supplementation

  • Hyaluronic Acid (Cock’s Comb) injection.
  • Effective (5–13 weeks).
  • Does not prevent progression.
  • May be expensive.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside a joint. A small incision is made and pencil-sized instruments are inserted that contain a small lens and lighting system to magnify and illuminate the structures inside the joint.

Joint Fluid Supplements

For patients whose joint pain does not improve with medication or physical therapy, "joint grease" injections may provide temporary relief. The joint is injected with a joint fluid supplement that acts as a lubricant for the damaged joint. Joint injection schedules and duration of relief vary according to the treatment chosen and the individual patient. However, these injections do not cure the diseased joint and joint replacement may be needed as the joint worsens with time.

Joint Replacement

If you and your doctor decide that joint replacement surgery is an option to relieve your pain, your doctor will provide the specific-to-you details of which type of artificial joint he or she will use, what you need to know to prepare for the surgery, how the surgery will be performed, and what results you can expect once you are up and moving again.

Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which certain parts of an arthritic or damaged joint, such as a hip or knee joint, are removed and replaced with a plastic or metal device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to enable the artificial joint to move just like a normal, healthy joint.

Hip replacement involves replacing the femur (head of the thigh bone) and the acetabulum (hip socket). Typically, the artificial ball with its stem is made of a strong metal, and the artificial socket is made of polyethylene (a durable, wear-resistant plastic). In total knee replacement, the artificial joint is composed of metal and polyethylene to replace the diseased joint. The prosthesis is anchored into place with bone cement or is covered with an advanced material that allows bone tissue to grow into it.