Non-Surgical Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment Options

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a breakdown of the cartilage or tissue that insulates your knee joint. It affects approximately 10 million Americans, according to the Journal of American Medicine. While in some cases surgery is needed to replace or repair your knee, there are other, nonsurgical treatments of osteoarthritis

Treatments

• Doctors commonly prescribe a number of different medications for nonsurgical treatment of osteoarthritis. In addition, therapy is also beneficial for many patients with the condition.

Types of Medications

• Oral medications used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac, acetaminophen, tramadol and narcotic pain relievers such as propoxyphene. Coticosteroid injections are another possible non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.

Function

• NSAIDs, tramadol and acetaminophen interrupt the production of chemicals called prostaglandins that cause sensations of pain, while NSAIDs and corticosteroids alleviate inflammation caused by osteosarthritis. Narcotic pain relievers block certain receptors on nerve cells along your spine and brain, which prevents you from sensing the pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Therapies

• Physical therapy often helps patients with osteoarthritis of the knee regain strength, mobility and flexibility through exercises, ultrasound, massage and thermal treatments. Occupational therapy teaches arthritis sufferers how to complete routine activities without causing joint stress that worsens osteoarthritis.

Supplements

• Patients who took a combination of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate saw improvement in knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, according to a 2009 study conducted at the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom and published in Health Technology Assessment.