Complementary medicine

Nontraditional, or complementary, medicine has been gaining in popularity. Studies of its effectiveness as a treatment for OA, however, have left many doctors skeptical.

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Some people have found pain relief using acupuncture (the use of fine needles inserted at specific points on the skin). Preliminary research shows that acupuncture may be a useful component in an osteoarthritis treatment plan for some patients.

Doctors are a lot more dubious about two folk remedies: magnets and copper bracelets. While some studies have shown that magnets of certain strengths may relieve pain, the relief is minimal and only for a short time, and the magnets can be expensive. As for copper bracelets, there is no reliable research demonstrating any benefit to OA patients.

Patients trying complementary techniques should inform their primary care physician to ensure these techniques do not conflict with other medical treatments they may be receiving.