Top Six Treatment Options for ...

Top Six Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

If you are diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, your doctor may recommend one or more treatments to reduce your symptoms. Most likely, your treatment plan will include a combination of lifestyle changes such as losing weight and exercising more, as well as treatments to decrease your pain.

Here are some of the most common treatments for OA of the knee. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any kind of treatment.

1. Lifestyle changes

Healthy lifestyle habits can be especially helpful to people with OA of the knee. Your doctor will probably suggest incorporating these changes into your treatment plan:

• Moderate exercise
• Weight control
• Simple daily routines that put less stress on joints

2. Physical therapy

Physical therapy uses exercises to condition muscles and improve flexibility and joint mobility. Typically you'll attend several sessions with a physical therapist and also receive an exercise plan you can continue to do at home.

3. Oral Medications

Many people with OA take over-the-counter or prescription pills to relieve pain. However, some pills are linked to stomach and heart problems, so it's important to take the right dose.

4. Viscosupplement injections

Viscosupplements — Injections in the knee, like Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20), that supplement your knee fluid and relieve pain. A single injection with Synvisc-One can provide up to six months of pain relief. The injection can be repeated safely if your knee pain returns.

5. Steroid injections

These injections are used to temporarily relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Typically doctors limit the number of steroid injections due to the potential risk of cartilage damage with frequent, long-term use.

6. Surgery

This option is often considered when knee pain is severe and other treatments have not provided relief.

This article is brought to you by Genzyme, the makers of Synvisc-One.Synvisc-One is the first and only treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee that can provide up to six months of knee pain relief with just one injection.To learn more, click here for a FREE information kit.

SONE-00295.A 11/2009 Healthline

Synvisc-One Important Safety Information

Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20) is used to relieve knee pain due to osteoarthritis (OA). It is for patients who do not get enough relief from simple painkillers such as acetaminophen, or from exercise and physical therapy. Synvisc-One is generally well tolerated. However, it may not work for everyone. The side effects most commonly seen in a medical study were knee pain, stiffness, and swelling or fluid buildup in or around the knee. Side effects were generally mild to moderate and did not last long. More severe side effects have been reported only rarely in routine clinical use. Other side effects, such as rash, may also occur. Before trying Synvisc-One, tell your doctor if you are allergic to products from birds — such as feathers, eggs or poultry — or if your leg is swollen or infected. Talk to your doctor before resuming strenuous weight — bearing activities after treatment. Synvisc-One has not been tested in children, pregnant women or women who are nursing. You should tell your doctor if you think you are pregnant or if you are nursing a child.