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WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS?
There is no known cure for osteoarthritis. Cartilage cannot be rebuilt by any medication or therapy (with the possible exception of glucosamine sulfate) once it is broken down. Therefore, many of the treatment options try to deal with the pain associated with OA and with the prevention of further damage. Treatments for OA include:
- Rest of the involved joints
- Wet heat therapy, including warm baths, hot compresses, and moist heating pads.
- Massage therapy helps maintain joint mobility, decrease the tension in the surrounding muscles, and helps increase circulation and synovial fluid (a fluid present in joints which helps nourish the joint capsule) movement within the joint
- Corticosteroid injections to the involved joint
- Joint replacement in severe cases
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