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The disease ranges from mild to severe and may cause pain, stiffness and tenderness around the joint. It most often affects the hands, feet, knees, and hips. Contributory factors include age, injury, obesity, and genetics. Hirsch said that therapies for osteoarthritis include weight reduction, exercise, and rehabilitation; simple pain-killing medications, such as acetaminophen or topical capsaicin cream; short courses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, for more severe symptoms; corticosteroid injections into affected joints for temporary pain relief; and surgery, such as surgical replacement of the joints, as a treatment option in severe cases.
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