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Other Treatments for Osteoarthritis

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Other Treatments

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin are substances found naturally in the body. Glucosamine stimulates the formation and repair of cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate prevents other enzymes from breaking down the building blocks of joint cartilage. While these two supplements are commonly used to treat osteoarthritis, the research has not shown that glucosamine and/or chondroitin are helpful for most people. If you are interested in taking these supplements, talk with you doctor first. Your doctor will help you decide if they are right for you and what your proper dosage is.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

With TENS, a doctor or a physical therapist places electrode patches on your skin, connecting you to a small machine. This machine sends painless electrical signals through the skin to the nerves. In people with knee osteoarthritis, TENS may decrease pain and improve function.

Manual Therapy

If you have knee osteoarthritis, manual therapy (including massage therapy and manipulation) may be helpful.

Home Care

Application of Heat

Heat improves blood circulation to the affected area. Applying heat via warm soaks, paraffin, or heating pads can be very soothing. Most recommend that you apply the heat for about ten minutes at a time, 3-4 times a day.

Application of Cold

Cold can help decrease inflammation in an affected joint, relieving pain, and improving stiffness and movement. Apply an ice pack for 20-30 minutes at a time, several times each day. Cold packs after exercise can be very helpful.

Injections

Corticosteroid Injections

Your doctor may choose to inject the affected joint with a solution containing a corticosteroid medicine such as:

  • Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
  • Triamcinolone (Aristocort)

The steroid injection can help decrease inflammation and pain in the joint. Sometimes, excess joint fluid will be removed from the joint just before injecting the steroid medicine.

Steroid injections often have to be repeated every several months. Most doctors believe that no more than three or four such injections should be given in a year. More than that number may itself cause damage to the articular cartilage.

Vicosupplementation

Viscosupplementation involves injecting the affected joint with a fluid containing a substance called hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a chemical found in normal cartilage and in normal joint fluid, which is vital to the lubrication of the joint surface.

Viscosupplementation uses laboratory-produced substances called:

  • Sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan)
  • Hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc)

Viscosupplementation is thought to:

  • Lubricate the joint
  • Allow the joint to glide more freely
  • Decrease pain and stiffness

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Copyright © EBSCO Publishing
All rights reserved.

References

  • Arthritis Foundation website. Available at: http://www.arthritis.org/ .

  • Conn’s Current Therapy . 54th edition. W.B. Saunders Company; 2002.

  • Manek NJ, Lane NE. Osteoarthritis: current concepts in diagnosis and management. American Family Physician . 2000;51(6). Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000315/1795.html.

  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .

  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. InteliHealth website. Available at: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/wsihw000/8513/34968/363973.html?d=dmtContent . Updated May 2008. Accessed December 11, 2009.

  • 12/11/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Rutjes WJ, Nuesch E, Sterchi R, et al. Transcutaneous electrostimulation for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(4):CD002823.

  • 10/15/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Wandel S, Jüni P, Tendal B, et al. Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee: network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010;341:c4675.

  • 11/29/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: French HP, Brennan A, White B, Cusack T. Manual therapy for osteoarthritis of the hip or knee: a systematic review. Man Ther. 2011;16(2):109-117.