Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee cannot be cured, but there are many ways to manage the pain that it causes. The treatment that's right for you will depend on how far your OA has progressed, how much pain you are experiencing, and what has worked (or not worked) for you in the past.

Osteoarthritis Knee Pain Treatments include:

Non-drug treatments

Avoiding activities that cause excess pain in your joints
Exercise
Physical therapy
Weight loss

Exercise and weight loss are key

Regular, moderate exercise can reduce joint pain and stiffness and improve flexibility and endurance–exercise also helps you feel better overall. Since extra weight adds stress to your knees, losing extra weight can reduce joint pain as well.Research shows that even modest weight reduction can make a difference in pain and stiffness.

The Arthritis Foundation website (www.arthritis.org) has lots of helpful information and tips for choosing, starting, and staying with a regular exercise program. The website also has many useful articles about diet, nutrition, and weight loss, including recipes and food guides. Remember to consult with your healthcare professional before starting a new exercise or weight-loss program.

Over-the-counter (nonprescription) medicines

Painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®, for example)
Drugs that reduce pain and inflammation such as aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil®, Motrin®) and naproxen (for example, Aleve®)

Prescription medicines

NSAIDs such as Celebrex® and Mobic®
Steroid injections
Pain relievers such as narcotics (Percocet®) and Ultracet®

Hyaluronate treatment

Another alternative is to treat the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee with a substance called hyaluronate (hi-al-yur-ON-ate). Hyaluronate is a natural substance found in high amounts in normal, healthy joints. When injected into a knee with OA, hyaluronate acts like a lubricant and shock absorber. Several different hyaluronate products are available for medical use, including HYALGAN®.

Surgery

Knee surgery may be an option for people who cannot obtain relief with any other osteoarthritis knee pain treatment options.

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Learn more about:

HYALGAN® treatment
Osteoarthritis tools and resources

Important Safety Information for HYALGAN®

HYALGAN® is used to relieve knee pain due to osteoarthritis. It is used for patients who do not get adequate relief from simple painkillers or from exercise or physical therapy.
You should not take this product if you have had any previous allergic reaction to HYALGAN® or other medications containing hyaluronan. You should not have an injection into the knee if you have an infection or skin disease in the area of the injection site.
HYALGAN® has been used in a number of countries in Europe, South America, and Asia since 1987. During this time, two cases of serious, allergic-type events were reported right after patients received the injection.
The most common side effects of HYALGAN® therapy are injection-site pain, swelling, heat and/or redness, rash, itching, or bruising around the joint. Any such side effects are generally mild and usually do not last long.

Click here for additional important information for HYALGAN®.