Joint Pain Specialist

What can cause joint pain?

Joint pain can be acute (typically due to an injury) or chronic, developing over time and lasting for several months or more. Common types of injuries causing joint pain include:

• Ankle sprains
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears (knees)
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears (knees)
• Ulnar collateral ligament injuries (elbows)
• Meniscus damage (knees)
• Labral tears (hips and shoulders)

One of the most common reasons for joint pain is arthritis, a collection of diseases whose symptoms include stiffness in the joints, heat, increasing weakness, and joint distortion.

The most common form is osteoarthritis, which tends to be a problem in later life after years of wear-and-tear erodes the protective coating on your bones. 

Rheumatoid arthritis has entirely different causes, involving a malfunction in your immune system that results in damage to the joint linings.

What other conditions might result in joint pain?

Bursitis – inflammation in the fluid-filled sacs cushioning some of your joints – is a common reason for joint pain. It's usually a result of overuse or repetitive strain, which is also true of conditions like:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis in the thumb and wrist
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow)
• Sacroiliac joint pain

Overuse causes irritation and inflammation in the tendons and joint tissues that results in chronic pain.

How is joint pain treated?

Initially, the team at SEPA Pain & Spine is likely to use the least invasive approaches, based on physical therapies, supports such as braces or orthotics, and anti-inflammatory medication. 

Regenerative medicine techniques that promote healthy tissue growth, such as stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, can also be useful.

If your joint pain doesn't improve with these methods, you might benefit from treatments such as:

Steroid injections

Steroids are highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs that your provider can inject into the joint for optimal results.

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation injects a natural lubricant called hyaluronic acid into the joint to reduce friction.

Radiofrequency neurotomy

Radiofrequency neurotomy (also known as ablation or rhizotomy) uses heat to damage the nerves sending pain signals to your brain.

Spinal injections

Spinal injections like lumbar sympathetic blocks, lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections, and piriformis injections may also be useful if you have hip or sacroiliac joint pain.

For effective relief of joint pain, call SEPA Pain & Spine or schedule an appointment online today.