Osteoarthritis

Prevention

There is no reliable way to prevent most cases of osteoarthritis. However, you may be able to control some factors that increase the risk of developing the disease. You can:

• Maintain an ideal body weight.

• Prevent osteoporosis by getting enough exercise, vitamin D and calcium and possibly by taking medication.

• Prevent major accidents and injuries.

It may also help to prevent or treating any conditions that might contribute to joint damage, such as gout or infection.

Treatment

Treatment focuses on managing pain and maintaining the ability to use the joint.

An over-the-counter painkiller, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), can help to ease stiffness and pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and others) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn and others) also may help. However, NSAIDs may be unsafe for people at high risk of developing ulcers, including people who have had ulcers in the past and the elderly. For these people, newer medications called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, such as celecoxib (Celebrex), may be less irritating to the stomach and intestines. All of these medications should only be taken under the supervision of a physician. Do not combine them with other drugs without consulting your physician. Stomach problems, including ulcers, are the most common side effects of these medications. Other pain medications, such as tramadol (Ultram) or codeine-type medicines, may be prescribed if the other medicines don't work. Alert: Two of the COX-2 inhibitors have been withdrawn from the market - vadecoxib (Bextra) on April 7, 2005 and rofecoxib (Vioxx) in September 2004.

In rare instances, when inflammation is significant, your health care professional may remove fluid from the joint and inject the joint with a corticosteroid drug. This is recommended for acute problems with weight-bearing joints, usually the knee. However, these drugs can damage the joint if they are used too much, so your health care professional will use them only when absolutely necessary.