If you are coping with the aches and pains of osteoarthritis in your daily life, welcome to the club. In the United States alone, more than 32 million people live with OA, the most common form of arthritis – a number that is steadily increasing as Baby Boomers age.
The good news is that there are many treatments available now, and new treatments and medications are being developed and tested with the goal of reducing OA pain and making life easier and more enjoyable.
John Sullivan, MD, a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons who practices at Steward Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, says it’s important for patients to get an early start on making lifestyle changes that will increase mobility and lessen pain.
“If you’re getting ready to go out but realize that your car keys are on the second floor and you decide to stay home rather than go through the ordeal of climbing the stairs to get them, you’ve already lost a lot of ground,” he says.
Harvard Health newsletter explains that OA develops inside a joint when the cartilage that cushions the bones erodes and bones begin to rub against each other, causing pain and difficulty moving the joint.
Although it can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects those in your hands, knees, hips and spine.
Once it has occurred, damage to the joint can’t be reversed, but symptoms can usually be managed. Generally, staying active and maintaining a healthy weight slows progression of the disease and helps maintain joint function and reduce pain.
“You can’t do anything about your genetics – the No. 1 cause of osteoarthritis – but you can control your weight and keep moving,” says Dr. Sullivan. It is so important to maintain your flexibility because movement keeps your joints lubricated.
“If you’re diligent in staying flexible and developing strength, you may be able to put off joint replacement surgery.”
Orthopedists and rheumatologists say that exercises to help with OA are not “one size fits all,” and caution is required to make sure you don’t do exercises that aggravate the condition.
Mayo Clinic discusses different types of beneficial exercise and advises you to check with your medical provider to ensure you’re helping – not hurting – yourself.
- Range-of-motion exercises – that lessen stiffness and put joints through their full range of motion. Examples include stretching arms up high or rolling shoulders forward and backward. Most can be done every day.
- Strengthening exercises – that help build strong muscles that can support and protect the joints. Weight training is an example of exercise that can help build and keep muscle strength. Using resistance bands, hand weights or machines can help build strength. Weight training should be done every other day or at least two days a week. It should include all the major muscles in the body.
- Aerobic exercise – that raise heart rate and help with overall fitness. They can improve heart and lung health, help control weight and increase energy. Examples of aerobic exercises that are easy on joints include walking, bicycling, swimming and water aerobics. Try to work up to 150 minutes of somewhat difficult aerobic exercise every week. You can exercise 10 minutes at a time if that’s easier on your joints. It’s best to do moderate aerobic activity most days, but even a couple of days a week can help. Exercise at a rate at which breathing is harder than usual while still being able to talk.
- Other activities – any movement, no matter how small, is beneficial. Daily activities such as mowing the lawn, raking leaves and walking the dog count. Exercises that focus on how the body moves, such as gentle forms of yoga or tai chi, also can help. They can improve balance and posture, prevent falls, and ease tenseness.
If you are in an exercise class or have a coach or instructor, discuss your arthritis with your teacher as you formulate your fitness plan. Listen to your body. Don’t do anything that causes pain.
“Lift weights that are comfortable for you and walk at a steady pace,” says Dr. Sullivan. “The goal is to get your heart pumping, which increases blood circulation throughout your body, including your joints. Circulation ensures that the synovial membrane is exposed to a steady supply of nourishing oxygen and nutrients, which are vital for repair and maintenance.”
The number of non-surgical options available to treat arthritis pain continues to expand, adds Dr. Sullivan. “PCP and gel injections are just two alternatives to cortisone shots.”
The Arthritis Foundation defines these injections: PCP (platelet-rich plasma therapy) is a form of regenerative medicine that amplifies the natural growth factors found in our blood cells to help heal damaged tissue.
Gel injections are, in fact, hyaluronic acid, a natural lubricant that breaks down in joints affected by osteoarthritis. HA injections – also called viscosupplementation – help replace the lubricant lost to breakdown.
Another treatment is genicular artery embolization (GAE), according to UCLA Health. It is a minimally invasive procedure performed by an interventional radiologist, which provides immediate and long-term pain relief for patients with osteoarthritis by reducing the blood flow to the lining of the knee.
In addition, Healthline reported in 2023 that research is being done on a drug called talarozole that could help reduce the adverse effects caused by low levels of retinoic acid in the body – a deficit linked to the development of OA.
The key, says Dr. Sullivan, is to do whatever it takes to ensure your ability to get around, including using assistance devices listed on the Arthritis Foundation website that can make life easier and less painful.
“Living with pain isn’t just a physical problem. It also affects your cognition, focus, memory and mood. Osteoarthritis affects your entire quality of life.”
Dr. John P. Sullivan, FAAOS, got his MD degree from New Jersey Medical School, completed his surgery internship and received a degree in Orthopedic Surgery at State University of New York, and has an Orthopedic Fellowship from Johns Hopkins University. He is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Sullivan works at Steward Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, with locations at 1715 37th Place, Suite 101, Vero Beach, and 13000 U.S. 1, Suite 5, Sebastian. You can call 772-778-0600 to make an appointment.
