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.

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.

¹ Based 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) 705-6493 for an appointment right away.

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