You Don't Have to Live with Joint Pain

What is a Joint?

A joint is formed by the ends of 2 or more bones that are connected by thick bands of tissue called ligaments. For example, the knee joint is formed by the lower leg bone, called the tibia or shin bone, and the thigh bone, called the femur. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, formed by the ball, or femoral head, at the upper end of the thigh bone, and the rounded socket, or acetabulum, in the pelvis. The ends of the bone in a joint are covered with a smooth, soft material called cartilage. Normal cartilage allows nearly frictionless movement. The rest of the surfaces of the joint are covered by a thin, smooth tissue lining called the synovium. The synovium produces fluid that acts as a lubricant to reduce friction and wear in the joint.

Obtaining a Quality Diagnosis

The medical management of arthritis and joint degeneration may be handled by a family doctor, an internist or a rheumatologist. However, when medical management is not effective, an orthopaedic surgeon should be consulted to determine if surgery is an option. In some cases, the orthopaedic surgeon may be the first physician to see a patient and make the diagnosis of arthritis.

To assist the orthopaedic surgeon in making a diagnosis, it may be helpful to write down your answers to the following questions before the appointment:

• Where and when do I have pain?
• How long have I had this pain?
• Do I have any redness or swelling around my joints?
• What daily tasks are hard to do now?
• Did I ever hurt the joint or overuse it?
• Does anyone in my family have similar problems, such as spurs on the edge of the bone

View more information about the Orthopedic Evaluation.

Treatment Options

Following the orthopaedic evaluation, the orthopaedic specialist will review and discuss the results with you. Based on his or her diagnosis, your treatment options may include:

• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Arthroscopy (cleaning the joint)
• Joint fluid supplements (injections that provide temporary pain relief)
• Joint replacement

If you and your orthopaedic surgeon decide that joint replacement surgery is an option to relieve your pain, the orthopaedic surgeon will provide the specific-to-you details of which type of artificial joint he or she will use, what you need to know to prepare for the surgery, how the surgery will be performed, and what results you can expect once you are up and moving again. Read More.