Symptoms
Joint pain can disrupt your daily life, making it harder to stay active, move freely or accomplish routine activities. While the severity and type of symptoms often depend on the possible causes, common signs to watch for include:
- Swelling, tenderness or stiffness in the joints
- Difficulty with movement or a reduced range of motion
- Persistent, dull aches or sharp, stabbing pain during activity or at rest
- Weakness, instability or a feeling of the affected joint "giving out"
Treatment Options
Houston Methodist provides a range of treatments and care options to relieve joint pain (including arthritis pain) and restore function, all designed with your unique needs in mind. Our treatment options include:
Physical Therapy
Through customized exercises, including aerobics and bracing, physical therapy strengthens surrounding muscles, improves mobility and alleviates pressure on painful joints. Physical therapy can also help reduce strain on a damaged joint, enhancing its function and potentially delaying the need for surgery.
Injection Therapies
Options like cortisone injections and hyaluronic acid injections target joint disease and joint inflammation, provide lasting joint and arthritis pain relief and improve joint fluid lubrication for smoother movement.
Medication
Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen (Aleve) are effective for managing mild to moderate pain and, in the case of NSAIDs, reducing inflammation for short-term relief. Topical treatments such as capsaicin creams or ointments can provide temporary localized relief for joints like the hands or knees. Certain supplements, such as glucosamine or chondroitin, may also support joint health and reduce discomfort in some individuals.
For autoimmune-related types of arthritis, prescription DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) or antirheumatic medications may be recommended to slow disease progression, manage inflammation and address long-term symptoms.
In cases involving nerve damage, medications might also be part of your personalized treatment plan.
Lifestyle Modifications
Simple adjustments like weight loss, incorporating aerobics and practicing low-impact exercises can help to protect joint health. Using assistive devices may also alleviate strain on the affected joint, minimizing stress on a damaged joint. Personalized patient information provided by our specialists can guide you through lifestyle changes to create a plan that works best for you.
Joint Replacement Surgery
When non-surgical options no longer provide relief, our specialists may recommend a specific type of surgery . Minimally invasive procedures are often used to repair or replace damaged joints with a new joint, helping to reduce recovery time and improve outcomes.
At Houston Methodist, we specialize in both total and partial joint replacement procedures to meet your unique needs:
- Total joint replacement surgery: This includes total hip replacement surgery, total shoulder replacement surgery and total knee replacement surgery, all of which fully replace the damaged joint to restore mobility and significantly reduce pain.
- Partial joint replacement surgery: This includes procedures like partial knee replacement surgery and smaller joint replacements, such as for the big toe. These surgeries are designed to preserve healthy tissue while targeting only the damaged portion of the joint, improving function and reducing recovery time.
As leaders in this field, Houston Methodist performs more than 7,000 joint replacements annually, including surgeries for larger joints like hips and shoulders, as well as for smaller joints like toes. We carefully hone our advanced joint replacement techniques to ensure that your artificial joint is tailored for optimal fit, function and long-term success.
Rehabilitation
Recovery is a crucial step in your journey. That’s why we provide comprehensive rehabilitation services, including physical therapy and strength training, to help you regain mobility, rebuild confidence and return to the activities you love.
Common Risk Factors and Causes
Joint pain and discomfort can arise from a variety of factors, some of which develop over time while others stem from sudden injury or illness. Understanding the most common causes and risk factors can help you take preventive measures or seek early care.
Common causes of joint pain Include:
- Aging: Wear-and-tear on joints naturally occurs with age, often leading to conditions like osteoarthritis.
- Chronic Conditions: Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to joint issues, along with disorders like Lyme disease, septic arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. Additionally, infections, gout-related complications and disease-specific factors can significantly impair joint health over time.
- Family History: Genetics can play a role, especially in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis.
- Injuries: Trauma such as sports-related sprains or fractures creates lasting discomfort and can lead to bone spurs, contributing to chronic joint pain.
- Obesity: Excess weight places added stress on weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, increasing the risk of joint damage.
- Repetitive Movements: Overuse of certain joints due to work or physical activity can cause strain or stress-related injuries.
Understanding the Types of Joint Issues
Joint problems come in many forms, each with its own set of symptoms and underlying causes. At Houston Methodist, we treat numerous types of arthritis and joint conditions, including the following:
- Bursitis: Inflammation of the joint fluid sacs (bursae) that cushion and support joints, leading to localized pain and swelling.
- Gout: A buildup of uric acid crystals in joints, which can cause sudden, severe pain, redness and swelling.
- Joint instability: Weakness or looseness of the joint structure, often caused by ligament damage or injury.
- Osteoarthritis: The most common joint disorder, this form of arthritis is caused by wear-and-tear damage to cartilage. It leads to arthritis symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling in major joints like the knees, hips and hands.
- Post-traumatic joint pain: Long-term discomfort and stiffness that develops after joint injuries or surgeries.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack joint linings, often resulting in severe inflammation, pain and deformities.
- Sports Injuries: Health conditions like torn ligaments (ACL tears), meniscus injuries and joint dislocations from physical activity or accidents.
- Tendinitis: Inflammation of tendons around the joint, typically resulting from repetitive movements or overuse.
Why Choose Houston Methodist for Joint Care?
At Houston Methodist, we are dedicated to providing exceptional, patient-centered care that helps you move beyond joint pain and return to an active, pain-free life. Here’s what makes us stand out:
- Advanced diagnostics and treatment: We use the latest imaging technologies, such as X-rays and CT scans, combined with innovative medical techniques, to accurately identify the root cause of your joint issues and provide effective, long-lasting solutions.
- Collaborative multidisciplinary care: Our specialists in orthopedics, rheumatology and physical therapy work closely as a team to provide comprehensive care designed with your individual needs in mind.
- Non-surgical and surgical expertise: From conservative treatments to minimally invasive joint surgeries, our team excels at finding the right approach for your medical condition.
- Personalized recovery programs: We offer customized rehabilitation plans that include holistic therapies such as gels, heating pads and ice packs to ease pain, rebuild strength, improve mobility and help you safely return to the activities you enjoy.