The Impact Of Joint Pain
Affecting millions of people, joint pain is a common orthopedic complaint. The most common cause is arthritis, which affects nearly 1 in 4 US adults. Joint pain can range from mild to severe, impacting daily activities and leading to emotional distress. Joint pain can affect any joint in the body with feelings of achiness, throbbing, crunching, and stiffness. Pain can be exacerbated by activity and severely limit movement and daily routines. There are numerous causes of joint pain, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, bursitis, and tendinitis. Knowing when to seek help is difficult. Here are 3 indications to make a visit with an orthopedic surgeon.
1. Intractable pain
Many times, joint pain can be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, rest, ice therapy, or other modalities. Arthritis can deteriorate cartilage, narrow joint spaces, and cause bone spurs. Severe degeneration can cause bone-on-bone contact, worsening pain, swelling, and dysfunction. If pain management strategies are poorly controlling symptoms or pain quality and intensity suddenly change, an orthopedist evaluation is warranted.
2. Redness and a fever
Joint pain that is sudden in onset, painful to touch, and associated with redness, warmth, swelling, and systemic signs, including fever, is considered a medical emergency. Septic arthritis is a painful infection of the synovial fluid bathing the joint caused by bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and other pathogens. Septic arthritis mainly affects a single joint, and common risk factors include advanced age, diabetes, previous infection, or being immunocompromised. Treatment requires intravenous (IV) antibiotics for bacterial infections and often a joint aspiration to analyze the fluid. Prompt evaluation and treatment are essential to prevent permanent damage.
3. Mobility issues
Range of motion (ROM) is adversely affected by joint disease to varying degrees and affects every individual differently. Joints are symmetric and most conditions affect joints equally. With joint disease, cartilage and lubrication are often diminished, making the joint less mobile and stiff. With severe disease, ROM might be markedly reduced, causing disability and severe impairment. An orthopedist can evaluate the joint and discuss treatment options and indications for surgery.
The surgeon’s role in joint care
Chronic joint pain can be a debilitating condition that significantly impacts daily activities and quality of life. Seeking professional guidance from an orthopedic surgeon is generally required when the pain is unbearable, the joint might be infected, or the joint has become immobile. An orthopedic surgeon can perform an evaluation, recommend interventions, or perform surgery if necessary. Orthopedic surgeons are experts in joint management and can provide comprehensive care for various joint-related conditions. In addition, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further damage and improve long-term outcomes.
