Osteoarthritis Pharmacy Outreach Program University of Rhode Island
What is Osteoarthritis? 他 A disease that affects weight bearing joints 他 It is the most common form of arthritis in
the U.S. 他 Results from normal wear and tear on the joints 他 Can see a break down in cartilage
How does this process happen? ¾ As a part of normal aging cartilage breaks
down due to normal wear and tear ¾ This leads to: z z
Cartilage chips Bone to bone contact • Grinding
z
Bone spurs
Osteoarthritis 他 Most common in those who are over 65 z
Although it can occur at any age
他 It can affect both men and women 他 People who are obese and have repetitive
stress to the joint are more at risk 他 Usually affects weight bearing joints z z
Knees Hips
Risk Factors ¾ ¾
Older age Sex z
¾ ¾ ¾ ¾
Women are more likely to experience osteoarthritis
Bone deformities Joint injuries Obesity Other diseases that may affect bones and joints z
Gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget’s disease, and septic arthritis
How does Osteoarthritis Present? ¾ Pain z
During or after use of the joint after inactivity
¾ Tenderness z
When light pressure is applied
¾ Stiffness z
Especially in the morning, relatively short in duration and resolves with movement
¾ Loss of flexibility ¾ Grating sensation ¾ Bone spurs ¾ Swelling
Goal of Treatment and When to Seek Medical Attention ¾ Goal of Treatment z
Pain relief is the primary goal
¾ When should you seek a doctor’s advice? z
If there is pain or swelling or stiffness that lasts for more than 2 weeks
Initial Treatment for mild OA ¾
Rest z
¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾
Low-Impact Exercise (ie: water aerobics, biking) Lose weight Use heat and cold to manage the pain Use a physical therapist Avoid stress on the joints Over the counter pain creams z
¾
If experiencing pain in a joint rest it for 12 to 24 hours
Numb the pain by creating a hot or cool sensation or use an aspirin like compound to control the pain
Use braces or shoe inserts
Moderate Osteoarthritis 他
Acetaminophen z
他
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs z z z
他
First line therapy in both mild and moderate OA, will help relieve the pain Eg. Ibuprofen and naproxen Relieve pain and reduce inflammation SE: GI bleeding, ulcers, cardiovascular problems
Tramadol (Ultram) z z
Is not anti-inflammatory Used short term Click here for more information on OTC medications
Severe Osteoarthritis 他 Prescription Pain killers z z
Carry a risk of dependence SE: nausea constipation, sleepiness
他 Cortisone Shots z
Injection of corticosteroids
他 Visco-Supplementation z
z
Injections of hyaluronic acid derivatives (Hyalgan, Synvisc) Only for knee OA right now Click here for more information on prescription medications
Lifestyle Modifications ¾
Eat a healthy diet z
¾ ¾
Take your medications as recommended Use assistive devices z
¾ ¾ ¾
This can help control your weight
Ex. A cane or gripping and grabbing tools
Spread the weight of an object over several joints Maintain good posture Choose good footwear
Other Treatments ¾
Acupuncture z
¾
Ginger z
¾
z
May benefit OA pain Help with elasticity and strength of joints
Magnets z z
¾
Maybe helpful with OA pain
Glucosamine and Chondroitin z
¾
Believed to help relieve pain
May relieve OA pain Not clear how they work in OA
Tai chi and Yoga z
May reduce OA pain
In Summary 他 OA is a normal part of aging and can
affect anyone 他 Usually pain is relieved with acetaminophen or other lifestyle changes 他 Be sure to always contact your doctor or talk to your local pharmacist before taking any sort of over the counter medication or remedy!!!!!
Resources 他
他 他 他
http://cchsdl.slis.ua.edu/patientinfo/musculoskeltal/osteoarthritis. html http://www.everydayhealth.com/osteoarthritis/creatinga-safe-home.aspx http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZT7TOZQBC http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_patient_re sources_nwhrc.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcnsz SzcontentzSznwhrcqazSzosteoarthritiszPzhtml
Pharmacy Outreach Program University Of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Medication Information Line: 1-800-215-9001