Can Osteoarthritis Be Treated Without Surgery? Non-Surgical Options That Work

Being diagnosed with osteoarthritis can bring an overwhelming sense of uncertainty—especially for patients who fear that surgery is the only path to relief. The good news? Surgery isn’t the only answer.

Thanks to advancements in regenerative medicine, powerful, non-surgical treatment options now exist to alleviate pain and promote healing at the source. Whether you’re hoping to delay surgery or avoid it altogether, the proper care plan can help restore function, reduce inflammation, and get you moving again—naturally. 

Understanding Osteoarthritis: The Silent Agonizer

As the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability, affecting more than 32 million adults in the U.S. alone. This degenerative joint disease develops gradually over time as the cartilage that cushions and protects your joints wears down. This cartilage loss increases bone friction, triggering pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion.

Osteoarthritis most frequently impacts weight-bearing areas such as the knees and hips, and also commonly affects the spine, shoulders, and hands. Many patients first notice symptoms of dull aches that intensify with activity or after prolonged rest periods. As the condition progresses, simple tasks like walking up stairs, standing from a chair, or gripping objects can become painful or difficult.

Regenerative Medicine vs. Traditional Arthritis Solutions

Traditional non-surgical options—such as lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, and targeted steroid injections—can provide meaningful pain relief. However, regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) go a step further. Rather than simply masking symptoms, these treatments stimulate the body’s natural healing response, promoting tissue repair and slowing joint degeneration.

PRP Therapy: A Natural Approach to Osteoarthritis Treatment

PRP therapy is a regenerative therapy that uses the healing components of your own blood to reduce pain and inflammation and repair damaged tissue. Platelets contain powerful growth factors that, when concentrated and injected into a joint affected by osteoarthritis, can stimulate cartilage health, decrease joint friction, and enhance the body’s natural repair processes. This is especially helpful in mild or moderate osteoarthritis.

The procedure is fairly straightforward and usually completed in under an hour. A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm, processed in a centrifuge to isolate the platelet-rich layer, and injected directly into the affected joint using image guidance for precise placement. 

To summarize, the benefits to candidates for PRP therapy to treat osteoarthritis include:

• Uses your own blood, reducing the risk of allergic or immune reactions
• Delivers concentrated growth factors to stimulate cartilage repair and joint healing
• Enhances joint lubrication, decreasing friction and stiffness
• Minimally invasive procedure with same-day return to activity
• Targets the root of degeneration rather than only masking symptoms
• Can delay or even prevent the need for surgical intervention

BMAC Therapy: Harnessing the Body’s Healing Potential

BMAC therapy is a similar regenerative procedure, but one that harnesses the body’s own stem cells, rather than platelets, to support the repair of damaged cartilage, bone, and soft tissue. These stem cells, drawn from the patient’s bone marrow, can reduce pain and inflammation and promote the regeneration of healthy joint structures—making BMAC particularly valuable for treating moderate to severe osteoarthritis. It is often combined with PRP for enhanced healing and broader treatment coverage.

During the procedure, bone marrow is carefully extracted—typically from the pelvic bone—then processed to concentrate the most potent healing cells. The resulting BMAC solution is then precisely injected into the arthritic joint under image guidance. This targeted delivery enhances the body’s natural healing capacity, often improving joint function, reducing pain, and slowing further degeneration. 

To summarize, some of the key benefits of BMAC therapy for osteoarthritis include:

• Harnesses the body’s own stem cells to support natural regeneration and reduce pain
• Provides a more robust healing response for moderate to severe osteoarthritis 
• Minimally invasive procedure with same-day return to activity
• Offers a natural, surgery-sparing solution for patients seeking advanced care

Start Your Journey to Pain-Free Living With Desert Spine And Sports Today

Osteoarthritis may be progressive, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless against it. With today’s regenerative therapies, patients can access advanced, non-surgical treatments that don’t just manage symptoms—they work with your body to promote healing and restore function. 

If you’re living with osteoarthritis and looking for a treatment plan that’s tailored, innovative, and grounded in expert care, the team at Desert Spine and Sports Physicians is here to help. Our board-certified physiatrists and pain management physicians are leaders in non-surgical musculoskeletal medicine and are ready to guide you through your options.

Take the first step toward lasting relief—schedule your consultation with Desert Spine and Sports Physicians today.