Everyday Health: What types of therapy can help relieve joint pain?

Phyllis N. Bonaminio, MD, FACR: At-home treatments can include over-the-counter medications, heat/ice, and rest. Seek medical advice if the pain is persistent. My five-finger approach to joint pain: (1) oral medicines, (2) injections, (3) physical therapy, (4) bracing and assistive devices, and (5) surgery. As a rheumatologist I can do everything falling short of surgery. Also, within each category there are a number of treatment options.

Janann Turner, MPT, CSCS: Physical therapy is the most appropriate prevention and treatment for osteoarthritis. It can prevent a person from developing arthritis and the secondary complications from arthritis like muscle pain, joint stiffness, and functional deficits like immobility.

Raymond Pertusi, DO: There are numerous approaches to managing arthritis. The choice of therapy is usually based upon what type of arthritis the patient has. Interventions are tailored to the diagnosis and the specific needs of the patient. Patients afflicted with the same arthritis may vary greatly in terms of their burden of disease and the need for therapeutic intervention.

Monica L. Piecyk, MD: The following can help relieve the joint pain of osteoarthritis:

  • Exercise: Physical and occupational therapy, swimming, walking, using a stationary exercise bike, tai chi, yoga, and quadriceps-strengthening exercises for knee osteoarthritis are all good choices.
  • Weight loss: Maintaining a body mass index of 25 or less is quite important. Excess weight increases the stress on joints and increases the risk for osteoarthritis.
  • Heat or cold therapy: As a general rule, cold is most helpful for acute pain, and heat is most helpful for chronic pain.
  • Medications: Useful drugs are acetaminophen, oral and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen, ibuprofen, and others by prescription. Stronger analgesics, such as tramadol or narcotics, are sometimes used for more severe pain.
  • Splints: As an example, patients with osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb often have improvement in pain by wearing a splint to stabilize this joint at night.
  • Joint injections: Steroid injections of knees or hips can temporarily decrease pain. Hyaluronic-acid injections are also helpful in some patients.
  • Surgery: Arthroscopy is helpful for specific problems like meniscal tears. Joint-replacement surgery is used to treat advanced osteoarthritis.

Waseem Mir, MD: There is no simple answer. I use a multidisciplinary approach that includes topical creams, exercises, homeopathic remedies, diets, local injections, acupuncture, analgesics, and autoimmune modulators depending on the type of arthritis and situation I am dealing with.