[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/05\/when-to-seek-help-for-joint-pain\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/05\/when-to-seek-help-for-joint-pain\/","headline":"When to Seek Help for Joint Pain","name":"When to Seek Help for Joint Pain","description":"Joint pain affects millions of people, and can be chronic and severe. Learn what causes joint pain and when to see a doctor.","datePublished":"2023-05-11","dateModified":"2024-11-26","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","name":"UPMC Orthopaedic Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/orthopaedic-surgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GettyImages-846421676.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/GettyImages-846421676.jpg","height":867,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2023\/05\/when-to-seek-help-for-joint-pain\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Orthopaedics"],"wordCount":1307,"articleBody":"Painful joints can make everyday movement difficult. From knees that ache nonstop to stiffness in fingers, joint pain affects millions of people.In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 58 million people in the U.S. have arthritis. And about 25 million must limit their usual activities because of arthritis joint pain. Arthritis is a leading cause of joint pain, though not all joint pain is arthritis.At\u00a0UPMC Orthopaedic Care, our providers see thousands of people each year for joint pain and associated conditions.What Causes Joint Pain?Your joints can hurt from overuse, injury, chronic conditions, or virus-related infections. Some joint pain is mild, whereas other joint pain may be debilitating.Arthritis\u00a0is the most common cause of joint pain, but there are more than 100 types of arthritis. The most frequent type is osteoarthritis, or \u201cwear and tear\u201d arthritis.\u00a0Osteoarthritis\u00a0(OA) develops over time. Age and joint overuse are two of the biggest risk factors.OA often affects the knees, hips, and hands, but it can affect other joints as well. With OA, your cartilage \u2014 your joint\u2019s cushioning system \u2014 gradually wears away. Your bones rub against each other, which can cause severe pain.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also causes joint pain; but unlike OA, RA is an autoimmune disorder. This means your body mistakenly attacks healthy cells. In the case of RA, your body attacks the lining of your joints, causing pain and swelling.Lupus, another autoimmune disorder, may also affect your joints. Lupus isn\u2019t the same as RA, though the conditions do have some things in common, including joint pain.\u201cThe most common causes of joint pain I see are osteoarthritis, meniscal and ligament injury, inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis,\u201d says Robert Woods, DO, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in primary and revision total knee, hip, and shoulder surgery in Meadville, Pa.You may also experience joint pain due to:Injuries, such as broken bones, muscle strains, or ligament sprains.Tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons that attach muscle to bone.Bursitis, an inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones around your joints.Bone infections, usually because an infection has spread from skin into bones.Gout, another type of arthritis that commonly affects the big toe.When Should I Go to the Doctor for Joint Pain?\u201cWhen pain interrupts normal activity \u2013 including activities of daily living like walking, working, sleeping, or exercising \u2013 people should consider seeing a medical provider,\u201d says Dr. Woods.\u201cWhen someone has tried conservative treatment on their own \u2014this includes exercise, such as walking, running, biking, and lifting weights, and medications such as NSAIDs and acetaminophen \u2014 and that has failed to combat the pain, our office is here for you.\u201dWhen it comes to joint pain, it\u2019s never too early to talk to your doctor. Even if you are only seeing your primary care provider (PCP) for a yearly exam, mention any joint pain you have. Your doctor may then refer you to a rheumatologist or an orthopaedic specialist.Joint pain can be hard to quantify for people, but the CDC has some helpful definitions.Persistent joint pain: Having joint pain on most or all days over the last three months. This can be joint pain of any severity. Half of adults with arthritis report having persistent pain.Severe joint paint: Having pain that you rate as a seven or higher (10 being the highest)\u00a0right now. In other words, it does not need to be persistent but severe enough to be debilitating. About 15 million people report having severe joint pain.If you have either persistent or severe joint pain, make an appointment with your doctor. The sooner you seek help, the more you may be able to reduce pain. Getting care early can also help you maintain joint mobility.Other reasons to seek joint pain care immediately:You also have a fever that isn\u2019t related to another illness, like flu or COVID-19.You also have appetite loss, unexplained weight loss, or sweat at night soaking your sheets.You also have any type of severe joint pain with other unexplained symptoms.What Are Joint Pain Treatments?First, your doctor will assess what is causing your joints to hurt. They will likely order tests, including blood tests, x-rays, or other imaging.If an infection is causing your joint pain, your doctor will treat the infection. But infections aren\u2019t at the root of most joint pain. As we know, arthritis is the leading cause of joint pain.Treatment depends on your type of arthritis.\u00a0Rheumatologists\u00a0take care of people with RA. For people with RA, there are medications and self-management strategies.Orthopaedic and sports medicine specialists can treat those with OA. Because OA is progressive, treatment depends on how much pain you\u2019re in, how much joint mobility you have, and your goals.Lifestyle changesYour doctor may first suggest making modifications to your lifestyle. For example, you may need to swap out some of your high-impact workouts for lower-impact workouts. This can be challenging for athletes, but a\u00a0sports medicine\u00a0specialist can help you create modifications that work for you.For some people, modifications at work can also help.Home-based pain managementSome people can manage joint pain with home care. This includes heat\/ice and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. But long-term use of NSAIDs can have side effects for some people.\u201cAfter a failure of appropriate exercise to build the muscles around the joint involved and over the counter or prescription medication, depending upon the diagnosis, conservative treatment such as physical therapy may be prescribed,\u201d says Dr. Woods.\u201cFor more severe conditions, surgery such as arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction, or total joint reconstruction may be recommended.\u201dMedical pain managementYour doctor may suggest giving an injection of corticosteroids directly into the joint. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatories that can provide relief when you have a flare-up of arthritis pain.These shots can be effective for some people but don\u2019t work for everyone.In addition, the shots can cause dangerous changes to blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. If your doctor recommends a steroidal injection, be sure to tell them if you have diabetes. You\u2019ll need to have a plan in place for how to manage your blood sugar in the days after the shot.There are also other types of injections, such as viscosupplementation injections, that lubricate the joint and can be an option for some patients based on evaluation by an orthopaedic specialist.Physical therapyPhysical therapy can help reduce joint pain by helping you strengthen the joint, as well as the muscles around the joint. PT may be very helpful early on for people with OA. It can help people with RA, too.Joint replacementFor people with severe joint damage that hasn\u2019t responded to nonsurgical treatment,\u00a0joint replacement\u00a0may ultimately be the best long-term option.While joint replacement is not a first-line intervention, sometimes it\u2019s the only one that alleviates persistent and debilitating pain. Many people with joint replacement remark that they wish they would have had surgery sooner. Joint replacement can be life-changing for people who are in severe pain every day and can allow patients to return to their desired activities and lifestyle without pain.\u201cOutcomes of total joint surgery are very reliable, upwards of 90% to 95% satisfaction at 20 years,\u201d says Dr. Woods. \u201cRevision surgeries can be performed for a poorly functioning total joint with a lower success rate but overall good outcomes.\u201dHave more questions about joint pain diagnosis and treatment? Learn how\u00a0UPMC Orthopaedic Care\u00a0can help.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 11, 2023, and was last reviewed on November 26, 2024.SourcesCDC. Fast Facts About Arthritis. Link.CDC. Joint Pain and Arthritis. Link.Medline Plus. Joint Pain. Link.OrthoInfo. Osteoarthritis. 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