Managing osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that affects 27 million American women. All body joints can be affected. OA is more prevalent in women than men. Most women, with a diagnosis of OA report discomfort in the knee, hip, back and wrist joints. The discomforts of OA can be managed with life style changes before over the counter medications are introduced. Surgical interventions should be considered as the last treatment choice. Once a medication choice has been introduced, nurses can review methods to women that will improve their ability to continue activities of daily living and decrease the impact of the discomforts of OA. Nurses can be instrumental in the management of OA by providing education about different intervention choices for the management of OA symptoms.