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Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis Treatments

By , About.com Guide

Osteoarthritis is a painful disease which can interfere with a patient's ability to perform routine daily activities. The goals of osteoarthritis treatment are to relieve pain and other osteoarthritis symptoms, preserve or improve joint function, and reduce physical disability.
  1. Medication Options
  2. Pain Relief
  3. Natural Remedies
  1. Osteoarthritis Diet and Exercise
  2. Joint Surgery Options
  3. Osteoarthritis Research

Medication Options

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While pain relief is the primary treatment goal of osteoarthritis medications, localized inflammation may also be relieved by using certain drugs. It's important to know your medication options. Osteoarthritis patients are commonly prescribed analgesic medications and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Pain Relief

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Managing osteoarthritis pain can involve medications, natural remedies, exercise, weight loss, joint protection, mobility aids, assistive devices and more. Your doctor will likely recommend more than one treatment approach to best manage pain. Be compliant with your treatment plan and keep a diary to track the effectiveness of treatment.

Natural Remedies

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Natural remedies and alternative treatments have gained popularity. Many osteoarthritis patients use complementary and alternative medicine along with conventional medicine. Alternative treatments can be effective for some patients. Learn about different alternative treatments and discuss your options with your doctor. Beware of quack cures which try to sway you by emphasizing the word "natural".

Osteoarthritis Diet and Exercise

There are contradictory reports about the effect of diet on osteoarthritis. Patients are typically interested in finding out what changes to their diet may increase or decrease osteoarthritis symptoms. Learn more about known scientific conclusions regarding diet and osteoarthritis.

Joint Surgery Options

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Joint surgery, though considered a last resort treatment option, has helped many osteoarthritis patients with severe joint damage. When the affected joint severely limits mobility and function and conservative treatments have failed to provide enough relief, surgery may be considered. Know what to expect before, during, and after joint surgery.

Osteoarthritis Research

We keep an eye on all research news, especially upcoming therapies or treatments for osteoarthritis. No new medication or treatment makes it to market without rigorous testing and FDA approval in the United States. Once it is showing positive results in phase III clinical testing, it's looking promising. There are also studies which assess what causes osteoarthritis, what makes it worse, and what makes it better.

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