Compare treatment options

	Lifestyle changes	Inject the knee joint with a corticosteroid shot
What is involved?	Healthy eating and exercise habits. Learn and practice effective coping strategies. On a bad day, consider taking acetaminophen or an aspirin-type medication.	Inject the knee joint with a single corticosteroid shot.
Results	People experience less pain and can do more. Over-the-counter pain relievers reduce the pain for several hours.	One month after injection 44 people out of 100 people have less pain and can do more after a corticosteroid shot compared to 31 after a fake shot.
Advantages	A more comfortable and functional knee. Focusing on healthier habits and greater resiliency will help you be healthier overall.	Symptoms might be improved for a couple of months, but sometimes longer.
Disadvantages	Developing healthy habits is not easy.	It may not relieve pain better than a fake shot. Discomfort with the injection. Harm the remaining cartilage. Potential disappointment.
Problems	Fewer than 2 of 1000 people have a serious stomach bleed.	3 of 100 people have a minor problem (discomfort or swelling). Approximately 1 in 1000 people have a major problem (infection or allergic reaction). Repeat corticosteroid shots speed the loss of cartilage.