Joint Pain Specialist

What causes joint pain?

Joint pain results from damage to the cartilage, bones, nerves, or connective tissues that make up the joint. Joints form where the ends of your bones meet. Covering the bones is articular cartilage, a smooth, slippery protective coating.

Some joints have additional cartilage: the knee has menisci — C-shaped wedges of cartilage that cushion the joint. Shoulders and hips have a ring of cartilage (the labrum) securing the ball-shaped bone into its socket. Ligaments connect the bones, and tendons attach your muscles to the bones. Nerves weave their way through every part of the joint’s structure.

Damage to joints can happen suddenly, causing acute pain. Sports injuries, auto accidents, and falls are common causes of acute joint pain. You might fracture or dislocate the joint and tear the soft tissues. Overuse injuries like bursitis and tendinitis cause a gradual deterioration of the tissues.

One of the leading causes of chronic (long-term) joint pain is arthritis.

How does arthritis cause joint pain?

The many kinds of arthritis affect joints in different ways. But they all cause aches, pain, stiffness, and weakness. The most widespread forms of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis mainly affects older people, from middle age onward. After decades of use, the articular cartilage thins and wears away. The bones underneath the cartilage have no protection, so they catch and rub, creating inflammation.

Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis

These forms of arthritis are autoimmune disorders. That means a flaw in your immune system causes it to attack healthy cells and tissues in your body. With rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, the immune system destroys cells in the joint linings. Psoriatic arthritis also affects the skin.

Gout

Gout tends to affect the big toes but can be a problem in other joints. It causes attacks of severe acute pain when crystals formed from excess uric acid in your blood build up in the joint.

How is joint pain treated?

Joint pain treatment usually involves rest and physical therapy. Your doctor might recommend a brace, splint, or sling to protect the joint and limit its use. Anti-inflammatory medication, icing, and heat treatments can help reduce pain and swelling.

If these treatments don’t help, the Cleaver Medical Group Interventional Pain team offers advanced alternatives, including:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Steroid injections
• Genicular nerve blocks (for knee pain)
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation

The Cleaver Medical Group Interventional Pain team injects shoulders, hips, knees, and other painful joints.

Call your nearest Cleaver Medical Group Interventional Pain office today or book an appointment online to find a joint pain treatment that works.