Osteoarthritis

OA is a chronic, slowly progressive disease and is common with advancing age.

A combination of different modalities of treatment can provide adequate pain control and preserve function and quality of life for many patients. Despite treatment, most patients continue to have some degree of pain and functional limitation affecting their desired activities and quality of life.

Complications of medication, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are problematic.

In patients who do not respond to medical and nonmedical therapies, total joint replacement provides good long-term pain relief for most people.