What can be done for Stage 4 arthritis?

Treatment: For stage 4 OA, treatment often involves surgery, such as joint fusion or, more commonly, joint replacement surgery. Steroid or HA injections may provide temporary symptom relief for patients awaiting surgery, or can help manage symptoms longer term for those who decide against or cannot have surgery.

What is Level 4 arthritis?

Stage 4 is the most severe stage of osteoarthritis. Because of the fully progressed state of cartilage breakdown and bone-on-bone friction, you typically experience more intense (even excruciating) pain and discomfort when moving.

What is end stage arthritis of the knee?

End-stage arthritis is the progressive wearing down of the cartilage that is present between the bones of a joint causing the bones to come in contact with each other and painfully rub against each other during movement of the joint. This results in severe pain with loss of movement and function.

Can you get rid of arthritis in the knee?

There is no cure for arthritis of the knee. It’s a lifelong condition. But the good news is treatment can relieve some of the symptoms. Treatment might even slow down or stop the disease from getting worse.

How do you treat severe arthritis in the knee?

The treatment plan will typically include a combination of the following:

  1. Weight loss.
  2. Exercise.
  3. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
  4. Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid into the knee.
  5. Alternative therapies.
  6. Using devices such as braces.
  7. Physical and occupational therapy.
  8. Surgery.

What is considered severe arthritis?

People with severe OA have extensive or complete loss of cartilage in one or more joints. The bone-on-bone friction associated with this can cause severe symptoms such as: Increased swelling and inflammation. The amount of synovial fluid within the joint may increase.

How do you know you need a knee replacement?

It may be time to have knee replacement surgery if you have: Severe knee pain that limits your everyday activities. Moderate or severe knee pain while resting, day or night. Long-lasting knee inflammation and swelling that doesn’t get better with rest or medications.