Methods and systems for treating osteoarthritis

A method of treating a patient with osteoarthritis, said method comprising:

• implanting a system control unit at least partially within said patient;
• configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat osteoarthritis;
• programming said system control unit with said one or more stimulation parameters;
• generating a stimulus configured to treat said osteoarthritis with said system control unit in accordance with said one or more stimulation parameters;
• and
• applying said stimulus to a stimulation site within said patient;
• wherein said stimulation site comprises at least one or more of an artery supplying a joint affected by said osteoarthritis, a spinal cord, a spinal segment supplying somatic sensation at said affected joint, a spinal segment supplying sympathetic control of said affected joint, a sympathetic ganglia, a nucleus gracilis, a nucleus cuneatis, a cranial nerve, a deep brain location, a hypothalamus, a thalamus, and a motor cortex;
• wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes disposed on an outer surface of said system control unit;
• and
• wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said stimulation site via said electrodes.