When Uncle Arthur Itus Comes to Visit
submitted by Dr. Floersch

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis in adults. The hands, knees, and hips are the most common joints to be affected. A prior injury can lead to osteoarthritis in the joint later in life. OA is an inflammation of the joint that causes deterioration of the protective, cushioning material in the knee called cartilage. So far, we have not found the exact cause and there is no known cure. There are a few things you can do to help with the pain of OA. Rest the joint and apply ice to help with swelling and pain. Topical creams such as Biofreeze, Icy Hot and Bengay may help with pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) will help with mild to moderate pain in most cases. Anti-inflammatories (Aleve and Motrin) help with moderate to severe pain and inflammation. There are prescription strength anti-inflammatories for which you can consult your doctor. Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin have not been shown to provide consistent relief in controlled studies. If a patient wants to try these, I will typically have patients take them for four to eight weeks and only continue them if they experience definite improvement. Cortisone injections in the joint may be an option if the pain worsens despite the measures above. If all of these measures have not provided enough relief, it may be time to seek the opinion of an Orthopedic Surgeon regarding joint replacement. As always, I recommend consulting your primary care physician to see what options above might be right for you.

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