Fortunately, proper treatment can relieve symptoms and improve function. I hope your doctor told you that appropriate exercise balanced with rest, plus a program of physical therapy designed especially for you, are as important as drugs for the relief of osteoarthritis. Be sure you get complete information on this therapy. Obesity is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis, so losing weight reduces the risk of developing osteoarthritis and improves the symptoms of the existing condition. Pain can be relieved in many ways, including the use of two types of drugs, analgesics and anti-inflammatories.
Analgesics are true pain relievers, that is, they dull the sensation of pain.
Opiates like morphine are the most potent analgesics and are used for only the most severe pain. Some of these drugs act as analgesics, but they also act by reducing inflammation, swelling and irritation, which lead in turn to reduced pain. Medical treatment of osteoarthritis usually includes the use of both analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. More serious symptoms may be treated by directly injecting triamcinolone, an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drug, into the affected site. Surgery to repair or replace cartilage or remove bone spurs is also an option.