3) Oral and injected anti-inflammatories
Oral and injected anti-inflammatories can be used to relieve the symptoms of knee OA. These medications are not capable of repairing the damaged cartilage and synovial fluid, but they reduce inflammation and help control pain to regain joint function and improve the quality of life.
Oral anti-inflammatories are usually over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, which reduce the synthesis and release of prostaglandins. However, your doctor may prescribe more potent prescription anti-inflammatories if they see you need something extra.
Another option is to use injected corticosteroids, which also work as anti-inflammatory medications and can be used directly on the affected joint to improve pain. This is also a temporary resource to improve joint function, and patients may need to repeat their treatment after a few weeks to maintain the pain at bay.