Osteoarthritis: Causes, Treatments, and How Medications Affect Joint Health

When your knees, hips, or hands start aching after walking or gripping something tight, you might be dealing with osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease where cartilage breaks down over time, causing bone to rub against bone. Also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, it’s not just aging—it’s how your body responds to years of use, injury, or inflammation. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, which is autoimmune, osteoarthritis is mechanical. It doesn’t flare up randomly. It creeps in slowly, often starting with stiffness in the morning that eases after moving around.

Most people with osteoarthritis turn to pain relievers like NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen to get through the day. But here’s the catch: these same drugs can hurt your stomach, kidneys, and heart if used long-term. And while they mask pain, they don’t fix the underlying cartilage loss. That’s why some patients end up on bisphosphonate therapy, a treatment originally for osteoporosis that’s now being studied for its potential to slow bone changes around arthritic joints. It’s not standard yet, but research is growing.

What’s often ignored is how other medications—like steroids for other conditions or even antidepressants—can make joint pain worse by raising inflammation or causing weight gain. And if you’re taking multiple pills, cumulative drug toxicity might be silently adding to your discomfort. The real question isn’t just how to relieve pain, but how to protect your body while doing it.

Some people try supplements like glucosamine or methylfolate, hoping for a miracle. Others switch to physical therapy, weight loss, or even acupuncture. The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. But knowing what’s in your medicine cabinet—and how it interacts with your joints—can make all the difference.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on managing osteoarthritis pain without risking more damage. From safe NSAID use to how drugs like meloxicam affect your system, and even how digital tools help people stick to their treatment plans, this collection cuts through the noise. You won’t find fluff. Just clear, practical info from people who’ve been there.