How are you going to manage this patients Osteoarthritis?

I would;

Provide patient education and social support

Encoourage weight reduction if appropriate

Provide physical and occupational therapies.

Heat

Walking stick or other aid

Joint protection

Exercise program e.g. quadriceps strengthening, aerobic exercise

Range of motion exercises and isometric exercise

Treat pharmacologically

Simple analgesia e.g. regular paracetamol

NSAIDS, COX-2

Glucosamine (limits medial joint space narrowing at 1500mg/ day)

Condroitin Sulphate (more for symptomatic control)

Joint Treatment

Steroid injection, but not more than 3-4X/ year

Viscosupplementation – q3 weekly, $500 each, lasts about a month, as effective as NSAIDS

Consider surgery

Arthroscopic surgery

Osteotomy

Joint replacement

Arthrodesis