Osteoarthritis Treatment in Ridgefield & Wallingford

What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of Americans. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the protective cartilage covering the ends of bones gradually breaks down over time. As the cartilage wears away, bones begin to rub against each other — causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and progressive loss of function in the affected joints.

Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the:

• Knees
• Hips
• Spine (cervical and lumbar)
• Hands and fingers
• Shoulders

While osteoarthritis is most prevalent in people over 50, it can also affect younger patients — particularly those with prior joint injuries, obesity, or a family history of the condition.

Osteoarthritis Treatment Options at Connecticut Pain Solutions

Epidural Steroid Injections

For osteoarthritis affecting the spine — including cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint arthritis — epidural steroid injections deliver powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected nerve roots and joint spaces. These injections provide prolonged relief and are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes physical therapy.

Nerve Blocks

A nerve block is frequently performed as a diagnostic procedure to confirm the exact source of osteoarthritis-related pain before more definitive treatments are applied. In some cases — particularly where nerve compression is a significant contributor — a nerve block alone can stop the pain. Dr. Turok uses cervical medial branch blocks, genicular nerve blocks, and other targeted nerve blocks based on the affected joint.

Radiofrequency Ablation

When a nerve block confirms that a specific nerve is transmitting the majority of your osteoarthritis pain, radiofrequency ablation offers longer-lasting relief. By using radiofrequency energy to disable the targeted nerve, this procedure provides partial or full pain relief that typically lasts 12 to 24 months. Many patients — particularly those with knee or spinal OA — find that radiofrequency ablation significantly improves their daily function and reduces their need for medications. Learn more on our Radiofrequency Ablation page.

Joint Injections and PRP

When osteoarthritis is causing significant joint pain, targeted intra-articular injections can provide meaningful relief. Options at Connecticut Pain Solutions include:

• Corticosteroid injections — for rapid anti-inflammatory effect and pain relief
• Hyaluronic acid injections — to restore lubrication and reduce joint friction and stiffness
• PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections — to promote natural repair of cartilage and synovial tissue, reduce joint inflammation, and potentially slow disease progression

PRP is particularly well-suited for osteoarthritis because it uses your body’s own growth factors to encourage cellular repair and reduce the inflammatory environment within the joint. Research shows that PRP produces superior outcomes to corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid alone for many OA patients, with benefits lasting six months to over a year.

Trigger Point Injections

Osteoarthritis that limits your range of motion commonly leads to trigger points — tightly knotted muscle bands around the affected joints that generate significant additional pain and further restrict movement. Trigger point injections target these knots directly, providing fast and complete relief while improving range of motion and making physical therapy more tolerable.

Medication Management

Medications are typically the first tool used for osteoarthritis pain, but managing them effectively over the long term — balancing relief with side effects and drug interactions — requires expertise. Connecticut Pain Solutions provides comprehensive medication management with a clear goal: effective short-term relief while progressively reducing dependence on medications through other interventional treatments.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is the foundation of long-term osteoarthritis management. All other treatments at Connecticut Pain Solutions are designed to reduce your pain enough that you can participate fully in physical therapy — which strengthens the muscles surrounding affected joints, improves flexibility, and addresses postural and mechanical contributors to joint degeneration.

Your physical therapist will conduct a detailed evaluation of the affected joints, your overall strength and range of motion, and your health history. You will then receive an individualized program that combines targeted exercises, pain management techniques (heat, ice, electrical stimulation), and functional training to help you move with less pain and greater confidence.

Regenerative Approaches to Osteoarthritis at Connecticut Pain Solutions

In addition to conventional interventional procedures, Connecticut Pain Solutions offers regenerative therapies specifically designed to address the degenerative process of osteoarthritis:

• PRP Therapy for Arthritis
• Bone Marrow Aspirate (BMA) Therapy
• Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC) Therapy
• Adipose Stem Cell Therapy

These regenerative treatments use your body’s own healing cells and growth factors to repair damaged cartilage, reduce inflammation, and restore joint function — offering a fundamentally different approach from medications or surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Osteoarthritis Treatment