Joint pain: Understanding symptoms, causes and treatment options

Joint pain doesn’t have to keep you from living your life. Seeking care early can help you get back to doing what makes you happy, whether that’s playing a sport, working comfortably, or moving through your day with ease.

At the University of Chicago Medicine, our orthopaedic team offers a range of options. We recommend the best treatment options for you based on your symptoms and overall joint health.

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What is joint pain?

Joint pain means discomfort, soreness or swelling in your joints. A joint is a part of your body where two bones meet, providing support, motion and activity. The bones are surrounded by muscles, tendons and ligaments, which also play an important role.

Examples of joints include:

• Knees
• Hips
• Shoulders and elbows
• Hands and wrists
• Feet and ankles

What causes joint pain?

Joint pain happens for many reasons, including:

• Injury such as sprains, broken bones or tendon damage
• Arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Overuse from sports or repetitive movements
• Gout and other inflammatory joint conditions
• Infections

What are the common symptoms of joint pain?

Recognizing joint pain symptoms can help you get treatment early.

Symptoms often include:

• Aching, tenderness or stiffness in the joint
• Swelling, warmth or redness around the joint
• Difficulty moving or bending the joint
• Clicking, popping or grinding in the joint
• Weakness while using the joint

If symptoms last more than a few days or interfere with activities, reach out to your primary care doctor or an orthopaedic specialist for evaluation.

How is joint pain diagnosed?

Doctors use several steps to diagnose joint pain and its cause:

• Review of symptoms and medical history
• Physical exam to check your joints
• Imaging such as X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to spot damage inside or around your joints
• Blood tests to check for arthritis, infection or inflammation

What are the best treatment options for joint pain?

Joint pain treatments depend on the cause and how serious your symptoms are. At UChicago Medicine, our orthopaedic team offers a range of options. We recommend the best treatment options for you based on your symptoms and overall joint health.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Joint Pain

Our first step is always to explore non-surgical options such as:

• Rest and changes in activity to reduce stress on the joint
• Physical therapy for improved flexibility, strength and mobility
• Medications, such as anti-inflammatories to decrease pain and inflammation
• Joint injections to decrease pain and inflammation
• Braces to provide support and stability

Surgical Treatments for Joint Pain

If joint pain does not improve, we may recommend surgery. Our experts specialize in advanced techniques to help you get back to your life with less pain.

The type of surgery depends on the cause of your joint pain, such as:

• Arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive surgery for injuries such as meniscus tears, ACL tears, rotator cuff tears, and shoulder or hip labral tears
• Joint replacement surgery, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and ankle for severe arthritis
• Open tendon or ligament repair for injuries, such as tears of the quadriceps, patella, hamstring, bicep, triceps, or Achilles tendons

When should you see a doctor for joint pain?

See a doctor if you have:

• Severe pain or swelling in a joint
• Difficulty moving the joint
• Difficulty walking or performing daily tasks
• Symptoms that do not improve after several days
• Signs of infection like fever with joint swelling or sudden redness

How can you prevent joint pain?

You can lower your risk for joint pain by:

• Staying active and avoiding overuse injuries
• Keeping a healthy weight to minimize stress on joints
• Stretching and warming up before physical activity
• Using proper technique during sports or exercise

What should you ask your doctor about joint pain?

Ask your doctor these questions:

• What is causing my joint pain symptoms?
• What joint pain treatments are available for me?
• How long will recovery take?
• Is surgery needed or are there non-surgical options?
• How can I prevent joint pain from returning?

Looking for joint pain relief?

Our joint pain specialists at UChicago Medicine are ready to guide you. Learn more about our orthopaedic services and choose the right treatment for your joint pain symptoms.

Schedule an Appointment