Hip and knee replacements are some of the most common surgical procedures, with more than 1 million Americans undergoing joint replacements each year. Adam Olsen, MD, describes common arthritis symptoms and treatment options, including joint replacement surgery. Olsen is a Mass General Brigham orthopedic surgeon and cares for patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital.

What is arthritis?

Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are conditions that can affect your joints and cause joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. Over time, this can cause cartilage damage. Cartilage is a smooth tissue that protects the movement of the joint. As arthritis progresses, the cartilage continues to break down, causing more pain and reduced range of motion.

“Arthritis pain is always first treated with nonsurgical strategies, but for those patients whose symptoms worsen over time, joint replacement may be a curative option for the affected area,” says Olsen.

What are common arthritis symptoms?

Common symptoms of arthritis include:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Pain
• Limited range of movement

Managing arthritis pain

There are nonsurgical options available if you want to reduce the pain associated with arthritis. Eating healthy foods and losing weight can be a good place to start.

“The hip and knee joints carry our weight through all our daily activities, like walking and standing. Your joints experience forces that can be up to seven times your body weight, so even losing 1 pound can improve your joint pain and help you move better,” says Olsen.

Other nonsurgical treatment options include:

• Over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol or anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen), to manage the pain
• Joint injections like steroids or hyaluronic gel
• Low-impact strength training to strengthen the muscles to support your joints

Arthritis and joint replacement

 “You may still experience joint pain even after trying nonsurgical treatment options,” says Olsen. “If that happens, it might be time to talk to your doctor about having your joint replaced with surgery.”

The most common arthritis joint replacement procedures are:

• Hip replacement
• Knee replacement
• Partial knee replacement (depending on where your arthritis is located)

Read more about arthritis symptoms and treatment options at massgeneralbrigham.org.