Abstract
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases of the joints and is characterized by degenerative changes that begin in the cartilage, which in turn lead to damage to the entire joint. These joint changes cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of normal joint function.
A number of international recommendations are commented on the choice of methods for the treatment of osteoarthritis. However, the lack of a clearly effective causal treatment leading to remission of the disease is a complex issue.
In addition, the possibilities for effectively but safely controlling pain, which is the most common problem accompanying osteoarthritis, are considerably limited. All current international recommendations for the treatment of osteoarthritis agree on the important role of non-pharmacological treatment.
Analgesics, nonsteroidal antirheumatic drugs, symptomatic slow-acting osteoarthritis drugs, or intra-articular corticosteroids can generally be used for pharmacological treatment. However, there are differing views on pharmacotherapy with these drug moieties, as discussed in this article.
It is also important to recall a comprehensive approach to the whole issue with the use of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment adapted to the requirements and capabilities of individual patients. Due to the lack of effective drugs to treat osteoarthritis, it is understandable to find other ways to influence the progression or difficulties associated with osteoarthritis.
One of the new pharmacotherapeutic options for influencing pain in osteoarthritis is the use of nerve growth factor blockers, which play an important role in the transfer of information from the periphery to pain centers in the brain.