“What is the best treatment for osteoarthritis?”

Arthritis is best treated with appropriate exercise and weight loss. Medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen may be helpful. Topical lotions can also be effective. If the problem progresses, injections such as with cartilage substitute or platelet rich plasma can be helpful.

The best recommendations are:
1) weight control- your weight and things such as lifting, pushing, pulling. Can increase the force across you knee 5-7 times depending on inclInes, steps etc. so if you weigh 150, carry 20# that is 170 times 5 is like 850# across knee with stairs, inclines.
2) Appropriate activities. Do what does not inflame the knee.
3) appropriate exercise- CORE strengthening, Quadriceps and Hamstring stretching and strengthening. Avoid running, jumping etc. Physiotherapy.
4) Antiinflammatory temporarily until pain free.
5) Injections- Corticosteroids, Hyaluronic, acid, PRP.
6) Avoid any stem cells except maybe your bone marrow. Very controversial !
Hope this helps. Good Luck.

Osteoarthritis can affect many joints - perhaps in our society the most common joint is the knee. The non operative treatment is to be "strong, supple, and slim." There are some tablets options, but narcotics should not be used. If the joint involved is the finger joints - generally hand therapy is better than surgery. The results of hip and knee replacement are good, but at 50 years of age, you are young for these operations, and should go to a surgeon with a special interest rather than just a guy. For 50-year-old patients with knee arthritis, especially both sides, if it is not advanced, and if the patient is heavy, bariatric surgery is better than knee replacement.

Cheers,

Mr. David Mitchell