Joint Pain Treatment Orange County

Our Orthopedists Can Provide Joint Pain Relief

Understanding Joint Pain

Joint pain can be pain, inflammation or discomfort caused from any part of the joint – including cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons or muscles. Most commonly, joint pain refers to arthritis or arthralgia, a type of inflammation or pain that originates from within the joint itself. Joint pain levels vary widely, and may only include mild soreness after physical activities, or it can be severe and make even limited movements (especially weight-bearing exercises) more challenging.

What Causes Joint Pain?

Joints are the location where 2 or more bones meet. In healthy joints, the cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons, and muscles work in perfect harmony to prevent any discomfort or pain as you carry out your daily activities or even athletic pursuits. However, when the thin cushioning layer (cartilage) on the surfaces of the ends of bones starts to wear down, the shock absorbing qualities go away due to bone rubbing against bone which causes painful movement.

Joint pain may be caused by a wide variety of underlying conditions, including by not limited to:

Bone cancer
Broken bones or fractures
Bursitis (joint inflammation)
Gout
Joint dislocation
Lupus
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sprains and strains
Tendonitis

Treatment for Joint Pain

Joint pain can be managed with self-care by staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy. These treatments can help improve comfort and joint function.

Surgical Treatment for Joint Pain

If your joint pain continues after trying more conservative treatments you may have a more serious underlying condition such as osteoarthritis which may require surgery. The main surgical procedure to treat osteoarthritis joint replacement (arthroplasty). In this procedure, your surgeon removes the damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal implants to restore the integrity of the joint.

Apart from these treatments, your doctor may advise you to maintain a healthy weight if you are carrying extra weight, which increases the pressure on weight-bearing joints, including the hips and knees.

Find a Sports Medicine Doctor

Should I See a Doctor for My Joint Pain?

Although it is rarely a dire medical emergency, you should make an appointment with one of our board certified orthopedic surgeons if your joint pain is accompanied by persistent swelling, redness, or tenderness/warmth around the joint. Joint pain can be an emergency if you experience joint deformity, intense pain, or sudden swelling.

Watch for these potential warning signs which may signal that your joint pain problem is a symptom of an underlying condition such as a form of arthritis:

Pain, swelling, and stiffness in multiple joints
Difficulty moving your joints
Trouble performing everyday activities
Any joint problems causing you concern
Joint symptoms lasting more than 3 days
Several episodes of joint pain within a month

Hoag Orthopedic Institute has been ranked as “High Performing” by U.S. News & World Report for Hip and Knee Replacements in 2020-2021. And, HOI has performed the highest number of joint replacement procedures in the state of California for eight consecutive years.¹ You will be in expert hands if you choose to have your joint replacement surgery at HOI.

¹Based on data released December 2018 by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).

If you are concerned about joint pain, please call Hoag Orthopedic Institute at (949) 890-0464 for an appointment right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

At your first appointment, you’ll meet with a board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine doctor who will take the time to understand your injury, training demands, and performance goals. You'll have a detailed discussion of your symptoms, medical history, and any imaging or test results you bring. Next, your sports medicine specialist will perform a focused physical exam to assess strength, range of motion, and joint stability.
If additional insight is needed, advanced imaging, such as X-rays, MRI, or ultrasound, can be arranged on-site. Together, you’ll review the findings, explore treatment options, and decide on the next steps. Before you leave, our sports injury doctor will design a personalized treatment plan to maximize your recovery and return to your sport safely and confidently.
When you're ready to meet with an experienced sports medicine doctor at Hoag Orthopedic Institute, call (949) 890-0464 or complete our online request form. We’ll match you with the orthopedic sports medicine specialist best suited to your needs and help arrange any imaging or records in advance.
From your very first visit, you’ll have access to a dedicated team of sports medicine specialists and the latest diagnostic tools and advanced treatment options to get you back to your sport safely and with confidence.
Our award-winning team of orthopedic sports medicine specialists treats injuries ranging from sprains and tendonitis to complex ligament tears, fractures, and joint damage. HOI’s sports medicine doctors do not just treat an injury—they dig deeper to diagnose any underlying issues to get patients back to doing what they love sooner.
HOI sports medicine doctors start with non-surgical options whenever possible, including seamless access to imaging, physical therapy and performance specialists, bracing, activity modification, and image-guided injections to reduce pain and speed your healing.
When surgery is your best path forward, our orthopedic sports surgeons perform procedures such as arthroscopic ligament reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, cartilage restoration, and others.
Our sports medicine surgeons use the most advanced minimally invasive techniques designed to restore full function and support long-term performance while preserving the healthy surrounding tissues.
We customize your treatment to your sport and performance goals, helping you recover fully, protect against re-injury, and return to play with confidence.
At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, our board-certified, fellowship-trained sports medicine doctors, orthopedic surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists bring advanced expertise to diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or simply embrace an active lifestyle, our sports medicine specialists design your care around your performance goals and your long-term health. Unlike primary care sports medicine doctors who typically see just a small number of sports injuries, HOI’s sports medicine team only treat sports medicine injuries and conditions—day in and day out.
When you need surgery, our sports orthopedic surgeons use the most advanced technology and non-operative treatment options to achieve exceptional accuracy in repair and reconstruction to help safeguard healthy tissues, restore proper mechanics, and support a faster, more confident return to play.
From your first consultation through recovery, you’ll work with a team that understands the demands of your sport and is committed to getting you back to doing what you love—safely and at your highest level.

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