Treatments for arthritis are advancing all the time, with the development of new technologies, medications and materials. In this article, we take a look at the latest treatment options for every stage of arthritis.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is actually an umbrella term for a range of different conditions characterised by diseased or painful joints. Symptoms typically include pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions, but the most common are:
- Osteoarthritis: – this is the most frequently occurring form of arthritis and is a degenerative joint condition, which means it worsens over time. According to the World Health Organization there were around 528 million people worldwide with the condition in 2019. That’s an increase of 113% since 1990. The knee is the joint most often affected by osteoarthritis (365 million), followed by the hip and the hand. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of people with osteoarthritis are over the age of 55 and 60% are women. Osteoarthritis is one of the most significant contributors to years lived with disability among musculoskeletal conditions.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – this is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system becomes over-activated and starts to attack healthy tissue, including the joints in the hands, feet and spine. Inflammation within the body can also damage the heart and other organs, as well as the eyes and skin.
- Psoriatic arthritis – this is linked with psoriasis and affects the joints and skin.
- Gout – this is a form of metabolic arthritis caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals that can accumulate in the joints, particularly the big toe. This causes sudden and intense bouts of pain.
Treatments for arthritis
The treatment you are offered will depend on the type of arthritis you have, as well as the severity of your symptoms.
Treating mild arthritis
In the early stages, arthritis symptoms are often mild and can be managed with simple treatments such as regular exercise to keep the joints flexible and well-lubricated. A physiotherapist can recommend a programme of exercise to target the affected joints and you may want to combine this with other low-impact exercise, such as swimming which reduces stress on weight-bearing joints. Applying a heat pad or ice pack can help to relieve pain or reduce inflammation. If you are carrying excess weight, this can add to the stress on damaged joints so losing weight can help to improve your mobility and prevent further joint damage. Taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication can help to relieve pain, enabling you to continue moving the affected joint.
Therapeutic injections
Therapeutic injections may be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- Corticosteroid injections are given directly into the affected joint. They help to decrease inflammation and provide short-term pain relief, although they should not be used repeatedly as they may weaken the cartilage in the joint over time.
- Arthrosamid injections provide sustained pain relief for people with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment uses intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel which is injected into the knee joint and can provide relief from symptoms for up to three years after treatment. It is an alternative to surgery for people with mild to moderate knee pain. Whereas corticosteroid joint injections provide relief from pain for weeks at a time, Arthrosamid injections are effective for a much longer time and evidence suggests can be repeated without the risk of damage to your knee joint.
- N-stride APS injections are also used to treat knee osteoarthritis. They use anti-inflammatory cytokines and anabolic growth factors extracted from the patient’s own blood. After the blood sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate out the ‘good proteins’, the injection is administered to the knee joint. N-stride provides pain relief for between six and 12 months.
Surgery
If you have moderate to severe arthritis symptoms, surgery may be the best option. Surgery, including joint replacements, can provide long-term improvements in mobility and a reduction in pain. There are different surgical procedures and your orthopaedic surgeon will advise on which is likely to be best for you. The latest surgical treatments include:
- Mako robotic arm assisted joint replacement. This uses Mako SmartRobotics, developed by Stryker, to improve the accuracy and performance of joint replacement surgery. It includes a pre-operative planning stage, AccuStop haptic technology and a state-of-the-art robotic arm which supports the surgeon on the operating table. Andrew Carrothers is one of the leading orthopaedic surgeons performing Mako joint replacement surgery at this time.
- Minimally-invasive hip replacement uses a smaller incision and is more muscle sparing compared to conventional hip replacement surgery which involves making a cut of 8-12 inches at the back or side of the hip. Minimally-invasive surgery entails less damage to the muscles and tendons around the joint and a reduction in blood loss, which makes it easier for your body to heal itself.
- Customised knee replacements use iTotal Conformis customised knee implants which are individually designed for your knee to ensure a perfect fit that mimics the natural shape of your knee. This can lead to more natural, pain-free movement and the implant may last longer as there is less wear and tear on the prosthetic joint.
- Customised hip replacements use Symbios customised hip implants in a similar fashion.
Biologics
For the treatment of autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis, biologics are an innovative type of medication derived from living cells. They target parts of the immune system, helping to reduce inflammation. There are many research studies taking place in the field of biologics and these are leading to treatment breakthroughs. For example, in February 2024, a team of researchers from Queen Mary University in London discovered that the molecule RvT4 can be used to support the body’s own natural defences against hardening of the arteries in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
For more information about diagnosing and treating arthritis, including advice on the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures, contact us.
Talk to an orthopaedic consultant | Cambridge
We are always happy to provide information and guidance about the various treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, including Mako robotic arm assisted surgery and conventional surgery.
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