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Treatment overview
For OA, treatment starts with the simplest and least risky interventions--ice packs, for example--and progresses, if necessary, to such therapies as joint injections and surgery. Treatment usually is simple in the early stages of the disease, and becomes more intense in later stages, especially if pain and disability become more severe. Sometimes combinations of treatments are the most effective. In general, treatment is focused on reducing pain and improving function. Currently, there are very few strategies proven to affect the progression of the disease, though research is ongoing
Every patient is different, and finding the right treatment or combination of treatments may take several months. This section includes information on nine treatment approaches:
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