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Tina from St. Albert asks: I have arthritis in my knees. It is so bad and the meds I tried don’t help… from advil to Voltaren to ketoprofin and Diclofenac Sodium. Is there a shot of something that would help? It’s hard to walk and swim and sleep etc. I’m trying to lose weight and exercise, but it hurts too much to keep up my walking regiment. Thanks.

The goal for treatment of osteoarthritis, be it in the knees or elsewhere, is to improve pain and function. There are a number of different strategies, many of which can be used at the same time. Pain relievers, starting with regularly scheduled acetaminophen, or NSAIDs as described above, work for some people. For the knees in particular, braces can help. Weight loss, exercise, and maintaining muscle strength around the knees can also be an important part of management. Injections into the knees, often with cortisone but also hyaluronic acid, can also help some people. A walking aid, such as a cane or walker, may also help. If none of the above are helpful alone or in combination, speaking to an orthopedic surgeon about the benefits and risks of a knee replacement may be an appropriate next step.