Suggest Treatment For Osteoarthritis In An Elderly Person

Posted on Fri, 17 Feb 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 Answered on

Tue, 7 Mar 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother, age 60, has osteoarthritis since a year. The problem is mild with knee pain during walking or climbing stairs if required.

Consulted orthopaedics, one doctor recommended injection in knee joint. But on second opinion from another orthopaedic, come to know about severe problems after injection like possibilities of infection at joints, also the injection needs to be taken every 3-4 month and patient will become dependent and addictive.

I am confused kindly suggest.

Answered by Dr. Chander Mohan Singh (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Infection occurs with steroid injection

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have read your query.

First of all, I want to say that Intra-articular steroid injections can be helpful in patients with moderate or end-stage osteoarthritis who are either not willing or suitable to undergo an arthroplasty in the short term.

I am assuming that the Orthopedician had already seen X-ray of knee and had done physical examination before advising you injection.

Secondly, it's seen in many cases that in patients whom steroid is injected in joints, deep infection sets in. Another point to note is that the effect of injection is for short term relief only, i.e it has to be repeatedly given after one month or so.

I'd usually prefer to do replacement surgery in my cases who have moderate or end stage osteoarthritis with pain.

So, in my opinion you should go for replacement surgery in place of steroid injection.

I hope you got the answer.

Thanks,

Dr.CHANDER XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Chander Mohan Singh (1 hour later)

sir,

Thanks for your reply. The osteoarthritis is at its early stage.

Alongwith steroid, the suggestion from same doctor was hyaluronic acid injection. kindly suggest what is the effectiveness, side effects of hyaluronic acid injection and how frequently it need to be taken. Can this be taken separately without steroids.

Answered by Dr. Chander Mohan Singh (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hyaluronic acis is good for your case.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for the response.

I usually give hyaluronic injection to my patients whome due to some reasons I don't advise painkillers or steroids and who are in early stage of osteoarthritis.

I usually give its shot a week for 3 to 5 weeks.

Its not for everyone as it seem to work better for some patients than for others.

It's less effective in older adults and patients with severe OA, so it can be tried in your case.

It doesn't have major side effects apart from short-term side effects are minor pain at the injection site.

In some patients, it cause fever, rigor chills, muscle pain, but you don't worry about that your doctor will take care of all that.

So as you are saying that osteoarthritis is in early stage you can go for hyaluronic injection.

It can be separately taken fom steroid.

I hope you got the answer.

Thanks,

Dr.CHANDER XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana