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Do You Need Surgery for Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis of the knee illustration

Osteoarthritis is a condition of wear and tear on the joints that tends to be progressive in nature.

“Arthritis tends to be age related, although not everyone who gets old gets it,” says Dr. Alan J. Graves, adult reconstruction specialist. “I see people in their 90s whose joints are great and people in their 40s whose joints are terrible.”

 While it is not curable, it is treatable - but surgery is far from your only option. Let’s explore the most common osteoarthritis treatments.

Nonsurgical Arthritis Help

Arthritis does not necessarily require surgery. Many people do well on a conservative course of NSAIDS, heat, and bracing.  Cortisone shots can work for a limited period of time but in some cases can actually make arthritis worse, says Dr. Graves. A series of viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid) injections can also help alleviate symptoms for a time by lubricating the target joint.

Arthritis Surgery Types

If conservative measures do not offer relief, you and your doctor can discuss surgery for arthritis. This includes:

Can You Prevent Arthritis?

“I think of it like the tires on your car,” says Dr. Alan J. Graves, adult reconstruction specialist. “You get new tires, there’s plenty of tread, but over time it wears down. If you take good care of your tires they tend to last longer.”

To learn more about our treatment options for osteoarthritis, click here.

 

 

 

Author
Marie Eide Marie Eide is the social media and content strategist at Orthopedic Specialists. She has been writing in the healthcare space for 15 years. All content is reviewed by our physicians.

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