What is Joint Pain
and How is it Treated?

Your joints are involved in almost every activity you do on a daily basis. Simple movements such as walking, bending, and turning require the use of your hip and knee joints. Normally, all parts of these joints work together, allowing the joint to move easily and without pain. But when the joint becomes diseased or injured, it can severely limit your ability to move, work and perform daily tasks due to the associated pain.

Are you suffering from joint pain? Take the first step to finding relief by using our free interactive assessment to diagnose your pain.

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What Should I Know About Joint Pain?

Joint pain is a broad term that refers to discomfort, aches and soreness in any of the body’s joints, such as the knees, hips, shoulders and elbows. Not all cases of joint pain require a hospital or doctor visit. However, some symptoms might be more severe, which would require a diagnosis and treatment plan from a medical professional.

Common Symptoms of Joint Pain

Joint pain can be classified as either inflammatory or non-inflammatory joint disorders.

Inflammatory joint pain symptoms include:

  • Swelling, redness, warmth and pain
  • Systemic (whole-body) symptoms such as fatigue, fever or weight loss
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Tenderness
  • Pain with movement

Non-inflammatory joint pain symptoms include:

  • Pain without swelling or warmth
  • Absence of systemic symptoms such as fever or weight loss
  • Trauma, such as a strain or tear, to muscles, tendons or cartilage around the joint, or osteoarthritis.
What Causes Joint Pain?
Sometimes, joint pain is the result of an injury or illness such as arthritis. However, it can also be due to other conditions and factors including:
  • Bursitis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Lupus
  • Gout
  • Certain infectious diseases such as mumps, influenza and hepatitis
  • Tendonitis
  • Bone or joint infection
  • Overuse of a joint

If you think you are experiencing symptoms associated with joint pain, and are ready to take the next step, use our interactive tool below to check your condition. 

How is Joint Pain Treated?

Treatment for joint pain primarily depends on the cause. For less sever cases, treatments typically include at-home options or physician-assisted, non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy or joint injections. 

Non-Surgical Treatments for Joint Pain
Conservative, non-surgical treatment options for joint pain include:
Surgical Treatments for Joint Pain

Options for further treatment of joint pain will largely depend on the underlying cause of the pain. Some causes of joint pain will require long-term treatment, and in cases, surgery to repair or replace the joint in your hip, elbow, knee or shoulder.

Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for joint pain include:


If you are suffering from painful symptoms associated with joint pain, and are ready to take the next step toward finding relief—try our interactive treatment finder below to get started on a path forward with the Integrated Spine Institute.

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