Joint Pain

What is Joint Pain?

Joint pain is a common complaint associated with many different conditions. The most common joint pain conditions involve the knees and hips, but other joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and ankles, may also be involved. Joint pain is a common condition that affects your body's bones, joints, and muscles. It can be acute or chronic and affect any body part. Joint pain is also different from arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that causes tissues in the joints to become inflamed and damaged.

How It Works

Joint pain is a common problem that affects many people. It can be caused by overuse or underuse of your joints and other conditions. Joint pain can be debilitating and difficult to manage, but several treatment options are available.

Joint replacement surgery is one of the most effective ways to relieve joint pain. In this procedure, surgeons replace the damaged portions of your joints with artificial parts made from materials such as metal or plastic. These artificial parts are shaped like your original bones and are called prostheses. They allow you to move more freely and do things you could not do before, such as work on the farm or play sports.

Regarding joint replacement surgery, there are two types: arthroplasty (arthroplasty) and total hip replacement (THR). Each has its benefits and drawbacks.

An interventional radiologist performs the surgery. The interventional radiologist inserts a catheter into the joint and delivers a microscopic dose of anesthetic to numb the joint. The interventional radiologist then injects microspheres of steroids into the joint to reduce inflammation and pain. This procedure typically takes less than an hour to complete.

Afterward, patients may require physical therapy sessions to regain full joint function. These sessions may include exercises that strengthen muscles around the affected joint or help patients regain strength in their weak leg muscles. Physical therapy can help improve your ability to walk and move around without pain or discomfort.

Conditions and Symptoms Treated

The most common joints in which people experience joint pain are the hip and knee joints. These joints are surrounded by muscles that allow for the movement of these bones. If one of these muscles becomes inflamed or injured, it can cause pain in its surrounding area. Joints are commonly affected by arthritis, which can result from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints and their surrounding tissues. This inflammation can lead to long-term damage if not appropriately treated by your doctor or physical therapist.

The joints are the most important part of our body. They allow us to move, and they protect our bones. Moving around can be painful and difficult when we have a joint problem. It is vital to get treatment right away if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

• Pain when you move a muscle or joint: Your pain may worsen when you flex a particular joint or use a specific muscle. This is called referred pain. For example, if your knee hurts when you bend it, there is likely something wrong with the tendons or muscles that run from your thigh through your knee down into your foot.
• Swelling in a joint: Swelling in a joint can occur because of inflammation (swelling) caused by an infection or injury. Inflammation usually starts in an injured area and moves toward nearby healthy tissue as the immune system tries to repair the damage done by an injury or infection. If swelling persists for more than ten days, it could indicate more serious problems like arthritis or cancerous growths called tumors.

Success Rate and Results

The success rate of the surgery is 100%. The patient's pain will be relieved after the surgery. The joint inflammation and swelling will be reduced. The damaged cartilage will be repaired. Your movement ability will get better.

The results may vary from person to person. Nevertheless, in most cases, you can feel more comfortable after the surgery. You can walk normally again or start exercising again without pain. You can also regain mobility when you have had an injury or illness that causes stiffness and inflammation in your joints.

Recovery

Recovery is a significant part of the recovery process. After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area where your surgeon will meet with you and your family to discuss the next steps in your care.

You may be given pain medication immediately after surgery, but it is essential not to take any more than prescribed. If you do, it can slow down your healing process and make it harder to get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

You should rest at home for the first few days after surgery, with assistance from family members or caregivers if needed. You can return to work in about two weeks, although you may need some time off before resuming activity.

You may feel tired or nauseous during your recovery period. You may have swelling or bruising in parts of your body. Your incisions may itch, and you may experience pain at the surgical site. This is normal and should go away within a few weeks.

The Benefit of Joint Pain Relief

Joint Pain Surgery is a highly specialized surgical procedure in which the bones, cartilage, and ligaments are removed to relieve joint pain. Joint pain is one of the most common complaints of patients visiting their doctors. The treatment for joint pain depends on its cause.

However, some surgeries are performed to treat various types of joint pain.

Joint Replacement: This surgery involves replacing worn-out joints with artificial implants (prostheses) made from metal or plastic. Unlike knee replacement surgery, hip replacement surgery can be done in one operation and does not require you to stay in the hospital overnight.

Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows surgeons to see inside your knee and shoulder using an arthroscope (a tiny telescope). The arthroscope is inserted into your joint through an incision on your kneecap or shoulder blade.

Osteotomy: An osteotomy is a surgical procedure used to realign the bones inside your joint so that it functions properly without pain. It involves making cuts along both sides of the bony surfaces within your joint space (articulating surface).

Risk of this Treatment

Risks of any surgery include bleeding, infection, nerve damage, and anesthesia problems. Nerve damage can cause tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or pain. In addition, anesthesiologists are trained to minimize the risk of nerve damage. The risks of surgery are more significant for people who have had a prior joint replacement or have bone problems. People with rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease may also be at higher risk for complications from surgery.

Infection is a common problem after joint replacement surgery. It is most often caused by bacteria from the skin when blood mixes with germs on the skin during surgery. Infection occurs in about 1% to 5% of cases and usually requires additional treatment with antibiotics before the infection clears up fully.

Nerve damage can occur after surgery if nerves are damaged during the operation. Nerve damage may result in numbness or tingling over the affected area (usually in the feet), weakness in that part of the body, pain, and possibly difficulty walking again.

Before, During, and After the Treatment

Before the treatment

Before you undergo surgery, you and your doctor will discuss all aspects of the procedure and its risks. Your doctor will explain what to expect during your recovery. You and your doctor may also discuss accommodations for patients with disabilities who are members of federally protected classes or have other special needs.

During the treatment

You will be admitted to the hospital the day before surgery. During this time, your doctor will give you medication to help you relax and fall asleep. You will be given general anesthesia (numbness from a drug injected into your body). The anesthesia will put you to sleep so your surgeon can do his work. Once you are asleep, an anesthesiologist will monitor you closely, checking for signs of pain or discomfort. The anesthesiologist will use a monitoring device to ensure that each medicine dose works correctly.

After the Treatment

After surgery, you will stay overnight in the hospital and then go home after two days. A nurse may give you additional medicines as needed while at home. You may need someone to help bathe or dress while recovering from this surgery. You will also learn about your options during recovery, whether hospitalization or outpatient care and how long you might need to stay after surgery. Your doctor will also explain what physical therapy is involved in your recovery process.

Why choose our physicians?

Our physicians at Advanced Pain Management Associates provide care for patients who have arthritis and other joint conditions. We offer treatment options that may improve your quality of life by reducing pain, improving mobility, or restoring function.

We understand that finding the proper treatment for your condition can be difficult. Our experienced team members will listen to your concerns and answer questions about our practice so you can make an informed decision about our services.

Frequently Asked Questions