Osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative arthritis, is one of the most common causes of chronic pain in adults worldwide. More than 30 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from OA, which can affect any movable joint, including the ankle, knee, hip, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. It causes the cartilage that cushions joints to lose elasticity and wear away in places. This makes the bones rub together, causing pain, stiffness and swelling.
Rush offers a broad range of treatments for osteoarthritis, including low-dose radiation therapy, an innovative nonsurgical treatment. Your team will work together to find the best combination of treatments for you.
Signs You Should Get Help for Osteoarthritis
See your primary care doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Persistent joint pain
- Significant swelling
- Painful stiffness
- Joint pain at night
- Pain during routine activities
If you have osteoarthritis, you might be referred to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints, muscles and bones. Rheumatologists at Rush have extensive experience diagnosing and treating osteoarthritis. Their goal is to treat you in ways that improve your mobility and control your pain.
Meet our osteoarthritis providers
Osteoarthritis Treatment at Rush
The good news is that osteoarthritis progresses slowly over many years. So if you get treatment early, you can keep it at a certain state so it doesn’t progress and become worse.
We'll work with you to create a personalized plan for your osteoarthritis that is tailored to your lifestyle and health needs. Treatment may include one or more of the following:
Nonsurgical Therapy
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medicines, corticosteroid injections to relieve pain and inflammation, and hyaluronic acid injections to lubricate your joints
- Heat or ice
- Nutritional counseling: Our clinical dietitians will help you develop a sensible nutrition plan that includes how to maintain a healthy weight and eat foods that strengthen bones and lessen inflammation.
- Physical therapy and/or occupational therapy: Our therapists work with you to help you regain your strength and mobility, as well as perform daily activities. This can include stretching exercises to increase your flexibility and decrease pain and stiffness; strength training to maintain muscle strength and support and protect joints; customized splints to support your hands and wrists; and tips on overcoming the daily challenges of living with chronic osteoarthritis.
- Acupuncture: Licensed acupuncture therapists can reduce your pain by inserting fine needles into the skin at specific points on your body.
- Injections: Injections, including corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, stem cells and platelet-rich plasma, may help to temporarily reduce inflammation and pain, and improve function.
- Low-dose radiation therapy: If traditional treatments have not relieved osteoarthritis pain, low-dose radiation therapy can improve your symptoms. This nonsurgical treatment uses radiation to reduce inflammation and pain and may be an option if surgery isn’t right for you or you choose not to have surgery.
Surgery
If nonsurgical treatments are not working, you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss surgery. The different types of surgery include:
- Cartilage restoration: Rush orthopedic surgeons perform a variety of techniques to repair or replace damaged cartilage before more advanced deterioration occurs. This can help delay or prevent the need for joint replacement surgery in young, active patients.
- Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive orthopedic surgery used to diagnose and treat osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, wrist and ankle joints. It is an alternative to standard open surgery, which requires larger incisions. This approach results in less swelling and pain, lower risk of surgical complications, faster return to normal activities, and it can almost always be done in an outpatient setting
- Arthrodesis (also known as joint fusion): Joint fusion is a procedure that involves removing damaged joints and fusing your bones together. It is most often used in the ankles and wrists but can be performed on other joints.
- Osteotomy: Osteotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting a bone to reshape it (shorten, lengthen or realign). It is used to correct deformities of the feet (bunions), hips, knees and legs, as well as to straighten bones that don’t heal properly after a fracture. Orthopedic surgeons may do an osteotomy to relieve pain caused by hip or knee osteoarthritis, especially in younger patients.
- Joint replacement: If you've tried all other treatments and are still in pain, joint replacement may be your best option. Replacing a damaged joint with an artificial one can effectively relieve pain and improve mobility.
Choosing Rush for Osteoarthritis Care
- Nationally recognized for excellence: You may receive care from our world-class orthopedic specialists for your osteoarthritis care. And you'll be in good hands. U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center No. 8 in the nation for orthopedics.
- Infusion and injection services: Many osteoarthritis medications are given either via an IV or through subcutaneous injection (under the skin). Our highly trained nurses administer these shots and IV treatments, ensuring that you receive your medications safely and effectively.
- Minimally invasive surgery: Whenever possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive approaches, which means smaller incisions, less pain and shorter hospital stays compared to traditional surgery.
- Innovative nonsurgical options: Rush offers many nonsurgical options to treat osteoarthritis pain, including low-dose radiation therapy. This treatment can improve pain with minimal side effects.
- Access to clinical trials: Because our osteoarthritis providers are also researchers, we offer a wide range of clinical trials. So, you'll have access to treatments you might not find elsewhere. For example, Rush orthopedic surgeons are studying the use of stem cells to treat osteoarthritis. Another study is testing whether a pressure-detecting shoe insole can help people with knee osteoarthritis walk in a way that reduces the strain on their knees — reducing pain and improving function.
FAQs About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, protective cushion around the joints, wears down. This cartilage can break down as you age. Previous injuries, family history and excess weight can increase your risk for developing osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis both cause painful joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system attacks healthy tissue in your joints.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints.
Your provider will usually start by performing a physical exam to evaluate movement, stiffness and other signs of arthritis in your joints. X-rays and other imaging can identify affected joints.
You may also have blood tests or other labs to rule out rheumatoid arthritis and other possible causes of joint pain.
There are many treatments for osteoarthritis. Common treatments include anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections and physical and occupational therapy. Other supportive treatments, including heat, ice, acupuncture and weight management can improve osteoarthritis pain.
If other treatments are no longer working, your providers may recommend surgery. Many surgical techniques can repair worn-down cartilage.
If you want to avoid surgery, or are not a good candidate for surgery, low-dose radiation therapy can improve osteoarthritis pain without surgery or major side effects.
If your current osteoarthritis treatment is no longer working, make an appointment with a Rush provider. Our primary care doctors, physical rehabilitation specialists, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons and other providers will work together to find a treatment option that fits your goals.
Low-dose radiation therapy can treat osteoarthritis pain without surgery. This minimally invasive treatment uses low levels of radiation to reduce inflammation in the joints. Low-dose radiation therapy is used when other therapies, like anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections have not worked, or are no longer providing enough relief.
