Osteoarthritis : In Depth - OA Knee Pain

If you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, your doctor may start you on one or more different therapies to reduce your symptoms. The choice of treatments will depend on a number of factors unique to you and your health needs, including your medical history, level of pain and the impact of OA on your daily life. Most likely, your treatment plan will include a combination of therapies, as well as healthy changes to your lifestyle such as eating right and exercising more.

Here are some of the most common treatments for OA of the knee. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any kind of treatment.

Lifestyle Changes

Healthy lifestyle habits can be especially helpful to people with OA of the knee. Your doctor will probably suggest incorporating these changes into your treatment plan:

• Moderate exercise
• Weight control
• Simplify daily routines to put less stress on joints

Medications

Many people with OA take pills to relieve pain. Here are some of the most common:

• Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®), an over-the-counter pain reliever, is often the first choice in treating mild to moderate OA pain.
• NSAIDs (e.g., Aleve® and Motrin®), may be recommended to patients who are not getting relief from acetaminophen. These over-the-counter medicines sometimes cause stomach problems.
• COX-2 inhibitors (e.g., Celebrex®), another kind of NSAID which are prescribed by a doctor, do not cause serious stomach problems. However, recent studies have linked some of these drugs to increased risk of serious heart problems.

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