Ozone Therapy for Arthritis & Joint Pain Relief: A Patient Guide from Arka Health

Published on: 8/Aug/2025
Posted By: Arka Health

Ozone Therapy for Arthritis & Joint Pain Relief: A Patient Guide from Arka Health

Chronic joint pain from arthritis can feel like an unwelcome, lifelong companion. The persistent ache, stiffness, and swelling can gradually erode your quality of life, making simple activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even opening a jar a daily challenge. For millions, the journey of managing arthritis involves a cycle of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and the looming possibility of invasive surgery. But what if there was a way to go beyond merely masking the pain? What if you could address the underlying inflammation and oxidative stress that fuel the condition?

At Arka Anugraha Hospital in JP Nagar, Bengaluru, we are at the forefront of a paradigm shift in arthritis care. As a pioneering institution combining minimally invasive procedures with holistic integrative and functional medicine, we offer innovative treatments that work with your body’s innate healing intelligence. 1 One of the most promising therapies in our arsenal for combating joint pain is Medical Ozone Therapy – a safe, non-surgical treatment that is providing remarkable relief for patients with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 2

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about ozone therapy for joint pain, from how it works to what you can expect during your treatment at Arka Health.

Understanding Arthritis: The Root of the Pain

Arthritis isn’t a single disease; it’s a term that covers over 100 conditions affecting the joints. At Arka Health, we primarily see two common forms:

  1. Osteoarthritis (OA): Often called “wear and tear” arthritis, OA is a degenerative condition where the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. This leads to bone rubbing against bone, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Chronic oxidative stress is now understood to be a major driver of this cartilage breakdown.

  2. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, primarily the synovium, the lining of the membranes that surround your joints.  This attack causes chronic inflammation, leading to joint swelling, pain, erosion of bone, and eventual deformity. 

While their origins differ, both OA and RA share a common destructive pathway: uncontrolled inflammation and oxidative stress. This is precisely where ozone therapy intervenes, not as a temporary fix, but as a powerful biological modulator that helps restore balance within the joint.

How Does Medical Ozone Therapy Work for Joint Pain?

Medical ozone is not the same as the ozone in the atmosphere. It is a precisely prepared mixture of pure, medical-grade oxygen (O2​) and a small, controlled concentration of ozone (O3​). When this mixture is expertly injected directly into an arthritic joint, it triggers a cascade of powerful healing effects.

Here’s how it targets the root causes of arthritis pain:

Powerful Anti-inflammatory Action
  • Ozone therapy directly modulates the body’s inflammatory response. It significantly reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, which are the key chemical messengers that drive cartilage destruction and pain in both OA and RA. 8 This calms the inflammatory fire within the joint, providing lasting relief.
  •  
Potent Analgesic (Pain-Relieving) Effect
  • Ozone has a direct pain-relieving effect. It works by inhibiting pain-producing substances like prostaglandins and bradykinin and activating the body’s own natural pain-killing systems, including the release of endorphins. Many patients experience a noticeable reduction in pain soon after treatment begins. 
  •  
Reverses Oxidative Stress
  • Arthritis is a condition of chronic oxidative stress, where damaging free radicals overwhelm the joint’s natural antioxidant defenses. Ozone therapy acts as a biological response modifier; it introduces a mild, controlled oxidative stress that stimulates your cells to ramp up their production of powerful antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione. This rebalances the joint environment and protects the remaining cartilage from further damage.
  •  
Improves Local Circulation and Oxygenation
  • The therapy enhances blood flow and oxygen delivery to the joint tissues. This is crucial for flushing out inflammatory byproducts and delivering the essential nutrients needed for tissue repair and maintenance.
  •  
Stimulates Tissue Regeneration
  • Research suggests that ozone therapy can stimulate fibroblasts and chondrocytes—the cells responsible for building connective tissue and cartilage. It also promotes the release of growth factors that are essential for joint repair, potentially slowing the degenerative process and improving the health of the joint capsule. 

The Ozone Therapy Procedure at Arka Anugraha Hospital: A Patient's Guide

Embarking on a new treatment can feel daunting, but at Arka Health, we prioritize patient comfort, education, and personalized care every step of the way. Our process is designed to be clear, collaborative, and focused on your unique health journey.

Step 1: The Comprehensive Integrative Consultation

Your journey begins not with a procedure, but with a conversation. You will have a thorough consultation with our experts, including our founder, Dr. Gaurang Ramesh, an Integrative Gastroenterologist and Functional Medicine practitioner. At Arka, we believe that joint pain is often connected to systemic issues like gut health and chronic inflammation. Our functional medicine approach aims to uncover and address the root cause of your condition, not just the symptoms in your knee or shoulder. 

This initial evaluation will include:

  • A detailed review of your medical history and symptoms.
  • A physical examination of the affected joint(s).
  • Potentially, advanced diagnostic tools like ultrasound imaging to assess the joint’s condition. 

A discussion of your health goals to create a holistic and personalized treatment plan.

Step 2: The Intra-Articular Ozone Injection

The primary method for treating arthritis with ozone is intra-articular injection, where the medical ozone gas is delivered directly into the joint space. 16 This is a simple and quick procedure performed in our clinic.

  • Preparation: The skin over the joint (e.g., your knee, shoulder, or hip) is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.
  • The Injection: Using a very fine needle, the doctor will precisely inject a small, measured volume (typically 5-15 ml) of the medical-grade oxygen-ozone mixture into the joint capsule.  The procedure itself usually takes only a few minutes.
  • Comfort: Most patients report only minimal discomfort, similar to a standard joint injection. Anesthesia is not typically required. 

 

Step 3: What to Expect After Your Treatment

One of the major advantages of ozone joint therapy is the minimal downtime.

  • Immediately After: You can resume your normal daily activities right after the appointment. We may advise you to avoid high-impact exercise for a day or two. 
  • Side Effects: Side effects are rare and usually mild, such as temporary soreness, mild swelling, or a feeling of fullness in the joint. These typically resolve within a few days. 
  • Treatment Plan: Ozone therapy is not a one-time fix. To achieve lasting results, it is administered as a series of treatments. A typical protocol might involve one injection per week for 3 to 10 sessions, depending on the severity of your condition and your response to the therapy. 

Safety First: Is Ozone Therapy Safe for Arthritis?

Patient safety is the cornerstone of our practice at Arka Anugraha Hospital. When performed by trained medical professionals according to established international protocols, ozone therapy has an outstanding safety record. 

  • Proven Safety: A landmark German study of over 5.5 million treatments found an incredibly low side-effect rate of just 0.0007%, making it one of the safest medical therapies known when administered correctly. 
  • Minimal Side Effects: The most common side effects are temporary and localized to the injection site, such as mild pain or swelling. 
  • Contraindications: Ozone therapy is not suitable for everyone. It is contraindicated for individuals who are pregnant or have G6PD deficiency (a rare enzyme disorder), uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, active bleeding, or a history of seizures. A thorough screening is always performed during your initial consultation at Arka Health.
  • Critical Safety Note: Medical ozone should never be inhaled, as it can be toxic to the lungs. Our procedures are designed to ensure this never happens. 

Why Choose Arka Anugraha Hospital for Your Joint Pain?

Choosing where to receive treatment is a significant decision. At Arka Health, we offer a unique, multi-faceted approach to healing that sets us apart.

  • A Truly Integrative Plan: We don’t just inject a joint; we treat the whole person. Ozone therapy is integrated into a comprehensive plan that may also include acupuncture, personalized nutrition, yoga therapy, and other evidence-based modalities to address the root causes of inflammation and pain. 
  • Expertise in Functional Medicine: Led by Dr. Gaurang Ramesh, our team is dedicated to a functional medicine model that seeks to understand why you have arthritis, not just that you have it. This allows for more effective, targeted, and sustainable healing. 
  • State-of-the-Art Care in a Healing Environment: Located in JP Nagar, Bengaluru, Arka Anugraha Hospital is a multi-specialty institution that provides the highest standards of medical care in a welcoming and patient-centered environment. 

Conclusion: Take the Next Step Towards a Pain-Free Life

If you are tired of living with the limitations of chronic arthritis and joint pain, it’s time to explore a therapy that does more than just manage symptoms. Ozone therapy offers a scientifically-backed, non-surgical path to reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and potentially slowing the progression of joint degeneration.

At Arka Anugraha Hospital, we are committed to empowering you on your health journey. By combining the regenerative power of ozone therapy with our deep expertise in integrative and functional medicine, we can help you reclaim your mobility and live a fuller, more active life.

Ready to explore if ozone therapy is right for you? Take the first step towards lasting joint pain relief. Schedule your consultation with our integrative medicine experts at Arka Anugraha Hospital in JP Nagar, Bengaluru, today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How long does it take to see results from ozone joint injections?

A: The response varies. Some patients report feeling a reduction in pain and inflammation after just one or two sessions. However, the benefits are cumulative, and the most significant improvements are typically seen after completing a full series of treatments as prescribed by your doctor. 

Q2: Are ozone injections for arthritis painful?

A: Most patients tolerate the procedure very well. You may feel a small pinch from the needle and a temporary feeling of pressure or fullness in the joint as the gas is injected. The discomfort is minimal and brief.

Q3: How many sessions will I need?

A: Your treatment plan will be personalized based on your specific condition, its severity, and your response to the therapy. A typical course for arthritis involves a series of 3 to 10 injections, often administered once a week. 

Q4: Is ozone therapy for arthritis covered by insurance in India?

A: Ozone therapy is often considered a complementary or alternative treatment. As such, insurance coverage can vary widely. Some providers may cover it under pain management policies, but many do not. We recommend checking directly with your insurance provider to understand your coverage. 

Explore Arka Recipes

Discover recipes that blend taste with health, crafted by our experts for your well-being.

Arka Diagnostics

Discover groundbreaking diagnostic services exclusive to India, now available at Arka Health, Bangalore

Social Share

Book An Appointment

Related Articles