Can You Actually Slow Down Osteoarthritis? A Chicago Rheumatologist Explains Disease Modification
If you’ve been living with joint pain, you’ve probably asked your doctor: “What’s the best medication for my osteoarthritis?”
But that might not be the right question.
At Chicago Arthritis, we believe the better question is: What can actually slow osteoarthritis from getting worse?
This distinction matters. Many treatments only mask pain temporarily. Others can help protect your joints for years to come. Understanding the difference can change how you approach your care.
What Is Osteoarthritis, Really?
Osteoarthritis, often called “wear-and-tear arthritis,” is frequently misunderstood as simple cartilage erosion. In reality, it usually starts with joint instability.
Here’s how it typically happens:
- A ligament or tendon becomes strained at some point in your life
- Even after the pain subsides, the joint remains slightly unstable
- Over time, that instability leads to progressive cartilage breakdown
- This results in swelling, further instability, and chronic pain
In other words, instability is often the root cause that drives cartilage damage — not just the natural result of aging.
What Does “Disease Modification” Actually Mean?
In rheumatology, disease modification refers to treatments that don’t just reduce symptoms — they actually slow or prevent a condition from getting worse.
For conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, we have well-established disease-modifying medications.
Unfortunately, there is currently no medication proven to be truly disease-modifying for osteoarthritis. Most available options only manage pain — they don’t protect the joint long-term.
This is a critical gap in traditional arthritis care, and it’s why exploring alternative, evidence-based options matters so much.
Common Osteoarthritis Treatments That Don’t Modify the Disease
Many popular injection-based treatments provide short-term relief but do not stop progression — and some may even accelerate joint damage.
Steroid Injections
- Can reduce inflammation and pain in the short term
- Do not prevent osteoarthritis progression
- Frequent use may actually hasten joint deterioration
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
- Works by destroying nerves that transmit pain signals
- Provides pain relief, but does not protect the joint
- Can inadvertently damage nerves that control muscle function, leading to muscle atrophy and reduced joint stability — the opposite of disease modification
Proven Disease-Modifying Treatments for Osteoarthritis
The encouraging news? There are treatment approaches backed by real evidence that can help slow osteoarthritis progression.
1. Weight Loss
For knee osteoarthritis, losing just 5% of your body weight has been shown to reduce disease progression visible on imaging. This is one of the most powerful, accessible tools available — and it requires no medical procedure at all.
2. Bone Marrow Concentrate (Your Own Stem Cells)
Research by orthopedic specialist Dr. Philip Hernigou has demonstrated that injecting bone marrow concentrate — a treatment rich in a patient’s own stem cells — directly into the bone can:
- Slow the progression of osteoarthritis
- Reduce the likelihood of eventually needing knee replacement surgery
This is considered true, evidence-based disease modification.
Promising Treatments That Support Joint Stability
Since osteoarthritis is fundamentally a condition of instability, treatments that improve joint stability have real potential to slow progression — even if they aren’t yet formally proven as “disease-modifying.”
These include:
- Strengthening exercises to support the joint and surrounding tissue
- Prolotherapy to strengthen ligaments and tendons
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy to promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation
- Bone Marrow Concentrate injections into ligaments and tendons for added stability
Reducing Inflammation Naturally
Certain supplements may also help support joint health by targeting inflammation, including:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Glucosamine
- Turmeric
While not definitively proven as disease-modifying, these options address a known contributor to joint damage and may be worth discussing with your provider.
So, What’s the Best Approach for Osteoarthritis?
Pain medications have their place — they can genuinely improve your day-to-day comfort and function. But if your goal is to protect your joints long-term, the most promising strategies are:
- Weight loss and improved metabolic health
- Regenerative medicine treatments like bone marrow concentrate injections into the joint and bone
- Strengthening and stability-focused exercise
These approaches don’t just treat symptoms — they address the underlying instability that drives osteoarthritis in the first place.
Take the Next Step Toward Real Joint Protection
If you’re living with joint pain and want more than a temporary fix, it’s time to explore treatment options built around disease modification — not just symptom relief.
Visit ChicagoArthritis.com to learn more about regenerative medicine options, including PRP therapy and bone marrow concentrate treatments, and schedule a consultation with our team today.
Treating Osteoarthritis and Knee Pain with Regenerative Medicine