Self-management is perhaps the most significant factor in controlling osteoarthritis. A person who anticipates problems and makes lifestyle changes is better able to achieve control.  

Non-operative management includes weight loss, low impact exercises, injectable therapy such as PRP, appropriate analgesia, knee braces, physiotherapy, good quality footware and topical creams.  

A downloadable handout on knee osteoarthritis is available here. It details all the non-operative options currently available.

Patients who have failed non-operative treatment may require surgery. Surgical options range from knee replacement to chondral resurfacing techniques with Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells. Having your knee arthroscopically "washed out" or lavage of the knee does not improve osteoarthritis any greater than non-operative management.