When the destruction of cartilage outpaces the growth of new cartilage cells, osteoarthritis can occur. The joint disorder is evident in more than half of seniors by age 65 and closer to 80 percent of the population after age 75. Osteoarthritis is a painful irritation that eventually affects daily activities. Most people seek medical assistance for osteoarthritis because of the pain.
Step 1
Start treating painful joints with over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen in conjunction with topical pain relieving creams, such as capsaicin. Doctors at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) report that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin do not effectively treat osteoarthritis and in fact, cause additional problems such as internal bleeding, ulcers and gastrointestinal issues.
Step 2
Counteract the pain caused when moving by participating in an exercise regimen that strengthens the surrounding muscles. Because most patients suffer with osteoarthritis in the knees, exercise that builds thigh muscles such as elliptical trainers and leg lifts can help reduce pain when mobile.
Step 3
Lose weight. The less pressure that is put on the weakening joints, the less pain you'll have to endure.
Step 4
Build assistive devices into your home to make movement easier and take off much of the pressure on sore joints. Elevated toilet seats, automatic seat risers and bars in bathtubs can help patients alleviate pain when performing certain activities and reduce the risk of falls.
Step 5
Ask your doctor for corticosteroid injections into inflamed and painful knee joints. The shots provide temporary relief from swelling and pain. AHRQ doctors recommend patients not receive more than three or four injections per year.
Step 6
Consider knee replacement surgery to eliminate the pain. Doctors at the AHRQ report that in a study, more than 90 percent of the patients who had knee replacement surgery reported marked improvement. Nearly 75 percent had no pain four years after the surgery.
Tips and Warnings
- If you need surgery on both knees, consider getting one replaced at a time to reduce the risk of complications. People who have bilateral surgeries must remain in the hospital longer, increasing risks of infection and other hospital-borne diseases. Getting one surgery at a time may require longer recovery and more expense overall but may provide a better outcome.
- Risks increase for seniors who undergo surgery. Patients older than 60 are at higher risk of infections, heart attack, pneumonia and in-hospital fatality after surgery than younger patients.
Things You'll Need
- Acetaminophen
- Capsaicin cream
- Assistive devices
