Osteoarthritis Treatment: A Complete Guide for UAE Patients

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint pain across the UAE. It's a degenerative condition — the smooth cartilage that cushions the ends of bones gradually wears down, causing pain, stiffness and reduced movement. It most often affects the knees, hips, hands and lower back.

Why we see so much of it in Dubai

OA used to be considered an "old age" problem, but in Dubai we now see it in working professionals and expats in their 40s and 50s. Contributing factors include:

• Long hours of sitting in air-conditioned offices
• Limited regular exercise
• Excess body weight — every extra kilo puts around 4 kg of pressure on the knees
• Previous sports injuries
• Occupational strain (construction, hospitality, healthcare)
• Vitamin D deficiency

Symptoms to watch for

• Joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest
• Morning stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes (longer suggests inflammatory arthritis)
• Grating or clicking sensation in the joint
• Reduced range of motion
• Swelling after activity
• A feeling of the joint giving way

How OA is diagnosed

• A detailed clinical examination
• X-rays — the mainstay of diagnosis, showing joint space narrowing, bone spurs and cartilage loss
• Blood tests to rule out inflammatory arthritis (RF, anti-CCP, ESR, CRP)
• MRI in selected cases

Treatment: a step-up approach

There is no single "cure" for osteoarthritis, but a layered plan can significantly reduce pain and preserve function.

1. Lifestyle foundation

• Weight management — the single most effective intervention for knee and hip OA
• Regular low-impact exercise — swimming, cycling, walking
• Physiotherapy to strengthen supporting muscles
• Correcting vitamin D and calcium deficiencies

2. Medication

• Topical NSAIDs (gels)
• Oral NSAIDs — short courses, with stomach and kidney precautions
• Paracetamol for baseline pain
• Duloxetine in selected chronic pain cases

3. Injections

• Corticosteroid injections for painful flares
• Hyaluronic acid injections for knee OA
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) in selected cases

4. Surgical options

When conservative treatment is exhausted and quality of life is affected:

• Arthroscopic procedures
• Joint-preserving osteotomy
• Partial or total joint replacement — highly successful for knee and hip OA

Living well with osteoarthritis

• Keep moving — inactivity makes OA worse
• Use supportive footwear, not just fashion shoes
• Manage flares with short rest, ice and topical NSAIDs
• Have your care coordinated by a rheumatologist so surgery is only used when truly needed

If knee, hip or hand pain is starting to change how you live, a rheumatology review is the right first step.