Osteoarthritis, or OA, is a common disease affecting as some 27 million Americans, causing pain, stiffness and swelling in joints. OA reduces your joints’ mobility, interfering with your ability to work and live your life normally.

There is no cure for OA at this time. It will progress and damage your joints further unless you intervene now. Luckily, there are many ways to manage OA symptoms.

Long-Term Management

As a person with osteoarthritis, you’ll need to take a long-term view of your health. OA can’t be bested in one day or with a single pill. You’ll have to take a comprehensive approach to your health.

You have a team to help you, including your arthritis doctor and other health care professionals, your family and friends, and your local Arthritis Foundation office. But you are the manager of that team. You must make a commitment to making healthy changes and choices and sticking with the OA management plan that you and your doctor will devise.

Top Tactics for Tackling OA

Your plan for taking on OA should include:

• Managing OA symptoms, like pain, stiffness and swelling
• Improving joint mobility and flexibility
• Keeping your weight in check
• Maintaining better fitness through physical activity

That sounds like a big project, but start by slowly making changes to your current routine, not trying everything all at once. Here are tips for managing your OA, and resources to help you.

Stretch Yourself. Slow, gentle stretching of joints may improve flexibility, lessen stiffness and reduce pain. Morning is a great time to stretch to get joints ready for the day’s tasks. The Arthritis Foundation offers stretching routines, including yoga- and tai chi-based moves, approved for people with OA on DVD or in live classes in your area. First, speak to your doctor to gauge your level of fitness and any special considerations.

Get Moving. Physical activity is a proven way to manage OA symptoms. Before you groan about hating exercise, just pledge to progress from dedicated couch-sitter to regular mover. Simple activities like walking around the neighborhood or taking a fun, easy land or water exercise class approved for people with OA can reduce pain and extra weight, which only worsens OA.
 

Get Stronger. Aerobic activity, the kind that makes you sweat, isn’t the only sort of workout that helps OA symptoms. Strengthening exercises build muscles around OA-affected joints, easing the burden on those joints and reducing pain. Your doctor or health-care professional can suggest moves for you, or check out these easy moves.

Keep Weight in Check. Excess weight adds additional stress to weight-bearing, OA-affected joints like the hips, knees, feet and back, increasing pain. Obesity has been cited as a possible cause for developing OA in the knees. If you are overweight, you may not want to exercise because you don’t like the way you look or because you tire easily. But losing weight can help people with OA reduce pain and limit further joint damage. Speak to your doctor about a weight-management plan and healthy food choices.

Manage With Medications. Many prescription (only available from your doctor) or over-the-counter (available at your pharmacy or online) medicines treat OA symptoms. Common OA medications include NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which target inflammation – a potential cause of pain and swelling), analgesics (which treat pain only), topical treatments (which are rubbed onto the skin in the affected area to temporarily ease pain or swelling), and injectable treatments, like hyaluronic acid therapy. Injectables are given by your arthritis doctor in the office, and aim to replace joint fluid depleted by OA.

Explore Surgery. Your arthritis doctor may also suggest surgery to repair or replace OA-damaged joints, especially hips or knees. If you are eligible for surgery, your doctor will refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon to perform the procedure. After surgery, you must commit to rehabilitating the joint, maintaining a healthy weight and continuing to engage in physical activity. 

Investigate Alternatives. Many people with OA use natural or alternative therapies to address symptoms and improve their overall well-being. Nutritional supplements like glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate are available over the counter and purport to treat OA by restoring cartilage. Other alternative therapies used by some to treat OA include acupuncture, massage techniques, hydrotherapy, and external tools like copper bracelets. Scientific research on these methods does not show proven effects, so consult your doctor before purchasing or trying any treatment.

Grab Some Gadgets. People with OA may have painful, stiff joints that don’t perform as they should, making everyday tasks difficult. Items called assistive devices can help. These include supportive items like scooters, canes, splints, shoe orthotics or walkers, or helpful tools like jar openers or car steering wheel grips. Some tools and adapted products may be easier to use. Consider adaptive living techniques too, modifying the way you perform tasks to ease strain on joints. Your doctor, or physical or occupational therapist can help determine what is right for you.

Stay Positive. Managing OA symptoms is a lifelong task. It’s important to stay positive about your goals when you feel pain or stiffness. Think about the benefits of sticking with your stretching or physical activity routine, and how much better you will feel when your joints are more flexible and less painful. Focus on the good things in your life, like your family or hobbies, and how much more you’ll enjoy them when you’re managing your OA symptoms. You are not alone. Get in touch with others like you at local programs. Most of all, stick to your plan, and you will successfully manage your OA.