Oral and Topical Medication and Cartilage

Another conservative treatment option for the cartilage damaged or arthritic knee is pharmacologic therapy. The primary goals of pharmaceuticals is:

• Decrease Pain
• Decrease Inflammation
• Increase Function

Clinicians choose the most conservative drug with the least amount of side effects while selecting a drug that is effective for that particular patient. There are both oral and topical medications available for patients; these are described briefly in this section.

Remember, there is no drug that is risk free.  One must assess the risks versus the benefits of decreased pain and improved function. Therefore, one should attempt to use the lowest dose of medication for the shortest amount of time possible.