[Improving mobility in painful osteoarthritis]

The incidence of osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and shoulder is rising in the Netherlands due to aging and leads to a high disease burden. In addition to rising healthcare costs, reduced work participation and limitations in independent living in this patient group are problematic. The treatment algorithm for osteoarthritis starts with conservative treatment, including analgesics. If the effect is insufficient, a joint replacement surgery follows. Some patients are not operated on due to age and/or comorbidity or disease stage. Sometimes there is a long waiting time or the surgery does not yield the desired result. When analgesics also do not work in these cases, pose too much risk, or cause side effects, these patients continue to experience pain and a reduced quality of life. A peri-articular denervation treatment can reduce pain in osteoarthritis and get the patient moving again. The treatment algorithm for pain in osteoarthritis needs to be further developed in the coming years.