Treating Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 20 million people in the United States. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the cartilage, whose function is to absorb shock and support joint movement. With osteoarthritis the cartilage gradually breaks down and erodes, ultimately to where bone moves against bone, causing pain, swelling and loss of movement. Osteoarthritis is typically a disease of the elderly, however it can present in persons in their 20s and 30s.
Different than rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis only affects joints, most commonly weight bearing joints and the joints of the fingers and thumb, big toe and the neck. Other joints are at risk if they sustained prior injury.
Patients with osteoarthritis typically experience a slow progression of pain or soreness when an affected joint is moved. The joint becomes stiff and, often, “creaks”, although these symptoms tend to resolve with about 30 minutes of normal activity. For some patients there is significant disability.
Therapy Support & Medications
There is no pharmacologic treatment to stop cartilage erosion. However, there are several injectable hyaluraron medications, that support viscosupplementation, i.e. supplement the viscous properties of the synovial fluid. Normal joint fluid contains a viscous substance called hyaluron which allows the cartilage surfaces of the bones to glide smoothly. Hyaluron injections are administered directly into the joint to supplement this natural substance and minimize pain with movement. Currently approved for mild to moderate symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, hyaluron injections may be prescribed for patients for whom other symptom management techniques have not worked, e.g. physical therapy, exercise, hot and cold therapy or over-the-counter pain relievers.
Hyaluron injections*
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Your Partner in Therapeutic Success
CoramRx maximizes compliance, minimizes complications and helps patients achieve therapeutic success in the most cost-efficient and clinically effective way possible. One week prior to each prescription dispense, you will receive a refill reminder phone call. To help ensure success with your osteoarthritis therapy, your pharmacy department team member will ask a series of clinical monitoring questions related to: Compliance to prescribed therapy, drug side effects, hospitalization, change in medication profile, disease status and effectiveness of prescribed therapy.
Patient Resources
The organizations listed below offer a variety of services and resources for consumers and caregivers. Please note that some organizations may charge a fee for access to services. This listing is not an endorsement of these organizations, or information they may disseminate. We strongly suggest you discuss any information you receive from these organizations with a qualified professional before making any changes in your healthcare, insurance coverage or home care provider.
Arthritis Foundation — a not-for-profit organization that helps people take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.
Arthritis Research Institute of America — seeks to prevent, treat, and cure osteoarthritis. The ARIA conducts research mainly through community-based and clinical studies.
Health Central empowers people with OA to improve and take control of their health and well-being.
FDA: Disposing Unused Medication — government guidelines for disposing unused medicine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) worked with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to develop the first consumer guidance for proper disposal of prescription drugs.
Learn More
- To learn more about your options for managing Osteoarthritis and CoramRx, please
contact us. - To enroll as a Osteoarthritis patient with CoramRx, please complete our
Patient Enrollment Form.
*Please contact CoramRx about other therapies not listed here.