Treatment options
Treatment of Osteo-arthritis focuses on decreasing pain and improving joint movement, and may include: -
- Exercises to keep joints flexible and improve muscle strength
- Many different medications are used to control pain, including simple Analgesics and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Steroids can be injected into joints that are inflamed and not responsive to NSAIDs.
- Heat/cold therapy for temporary pain relief
- Joint protection to prevent strain or stress on painful joints
- Assistive equipment to improve function, such as hand orthoses and home adaptations for example a second banister and/or bath rail
- Surgery (sometimes) to relieve chronic pain in damaged joints. This may be joint fusion or joint replacement. Joints commonly replaced are hips and knees but it is possible to replace ankles, shoulders and fingers joints
- Weight control to prevent extra stress on weight-bearing joints
Joint replacement suitability
In the assessment of suitability of joint replacement surgery, several factors (such as age and chronic medical condition) are considered and are evaluated on an individual basis to determine the most appropriate course of action. None of these factors represent absolute contraindications to surgery. Firstly, consideration is given to whether non-operative treatment such as physical therapy and medication has been exhausted. Individuals with additional chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and clotting disorders are evaluated and the level of control of these conditions optimised. The benefits of surgery (pain reduction and maintaining fitness) must be weighed up against the risks of potential multiple revision operations in younger patients because of wear and tear on the joint implants.
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Amended August 2010
