Worried About Chronic Joint Pain?
Joint pain is a common concern that affects almost everyone at different stages of life. The many joints that are used for work and sports become overused, leading to pain, stiffness, and a loss of mobility. Sometimes this can happen for a short period. Other occasions are chronic, debilitating, and need medical attention. Chronic joint pain is common in major joints such as the knees, shoulders, hips, and elbows, as well as in the spine. Some cases are due to the wear and tear of cartilage, known as arthritis. Other cases are due to injury or acute damage to the complex components of the joint. Whatever the reason, these 3 warning signs of chronic joint pain should not be ignored and warrant a trip to an orthopedic surgeon.
1. Look for mechanical warning signs
If joint pain is accompanied by a limited range of motion (ROM) or physical deficiencies, there may be a deeper issue. For instance, a locking or catching sensation when using the joint can be a sign of ligament or cartilage damage, like a meniscus tear in the knee. Audible clicking, grinding, or popping may indicate bone-on-bone contact, which is a sign of more severe damage. Sometimes, the joint feels unstable, suddenly buckling or giving out during routine movements. Take note of these signs, especially if the issues worsen over time, and seek medical attention.
2. Pain impacting your lifestyle?
Most cases of chronic joint pain can be managed around work and daily activities. There are times, however, when joint pain begins to encroach on everyday life. For instance, chronic pain can disrupt sleep or prevent individuals from getting comfortable out of fear of disrupting the joint. People with knee pain adopt a new gait or begin to avoid stairs to limit pain. Chronic pain can even disrupt lifestyles and have a high social cost. Playing sports with friends is limited, and some individuals begin to decline invitations, weighing the potential strain on the impacted joint. This is a sign to get medical advice.
3. Your conservative attempts fail
Chronic joint pain has a range of non-surgical strategies to limit pain and even improve ROM. Pain medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), bracing, rest, and icing, are common conservative solutions. Physical therapy (PT) and other long-term solutions, like corticosteroid injections, provide significant pain relief. There comes a time, however, when treatments no longer improve symptoms. For instance, PT no longer improves joint pain, or medication effectiveness declines. Some patients continue to feel chronic pain despite using steroid injections or hyaluronic acid. If non-surgical treatment feels more like a dead end, advanced strategies may be necessary.
How an orthopedic surgeon helps
An orthopedic surgeon can provide more details and a custom plan that relieves pain or improves mobility. The doctor may request magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other tests to get a deeper understanding of chronic joint pain. Speaking with a surgeon does not mean a surgical procedure. The doctor may recommend non-surgical or minimally invasive procedures for longer symptom relief. For instance, the surgeon can use arthroscopy to repair soft tissue damage, including ligaments and cartilage. Common examples include meniscus repair, shoulder decompression, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. For patients with severe arthritis, joint replacements can alleviate pain and restore mobility, while spinal surgery can address issues with the spinal joints.
Take chronic joint pain seriously
Most cases of joint pain can be easily managed. Once chronic joint pain significantly impacts mobility or social life, the structural issue may require expert advice. When initial treatments that once helped are no longer effective, an orthopedic surgeon digs deeper to find the root cause. This specialist creates a custom plan to address the underlying condition, often recommending surgical repair. After recovery, which can take several weeks, patients can finally see real improvement. Get the support needed to maximize the use of the joint again.
