What is Joint Pain & Arthritis Care?
Joint pain and arthritis care addresses discomfort, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility affecting any of the body's joints—including knees, hips, hands, shoulders, and spine. Arthritis means joint inflammation, and over 100 different types exist. The most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis resulting from wear and tear on joint cartilage over time, typically affecting older adults and previously injured joints) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition causing chronic inflammation that can affect multiple joints simultaneously, along with systemic symptoms). Other important types include gout (sudden, severe attacks caused by uric acid crystal deposits), psoriatic arthritis (associated with the skin condition psoriasis), and infectious arthritis. Many cases of joint pain don't meet criteria for arthritis but still cause significant discomfort and functional limitations. Comprehensive care includes accurate diagnosis, pain management, preservation of joint function, and prevention of progressive damage.
Why is it Important?
Joint pain and arthritis significantly impact quality of life and, if left unmanaged, can lead to progressive joint damage, chronic pain, disability, and loss of independence. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability among older adults, limiting ability to walk, climb stairs, work, and perform daily activities. Inflammatory types of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint deformity and damage within just a few years if not treated aggressively with disease-modifying medications. Beyond joints, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis types can affect internal organs including the heart, lungs, and eyes. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment significantly slow disease progression, prevent or delay joint damage, maintain function, and reduce pain. Your provider can distinguish between different types of joint problems—some requiring only symptom management while others need aggressive disease-modifying treatment. Gout, if left untreated, causes increasingly frequent and severe attacks and can lead to joint destruction and kidney stones—yet it's highly treatable with proper medication. Even for osteoarthritis, which cannot be reversed, appropriate management including weight loss, exercise, physical therapy, medications, and sometimes injections or surgery substantially improves pain and function, allowing you to remain active and independent.
What to Expect
Your evaluation begins with a detailed discussion about which joints are affected, whether pain came on suddenly or gradually, whether joints are stiff (particularly in the morning), swollen, warm, or red, whether you experience systemic symptoms like fatigue or fever, family history of arthritis, and how joint problems limit your activities. Your provider will examine affected joints, assessing for swelling, warmth, tenderness, range of motion, and stability. Depending on your symptoms, diagnostic testing may include blood work (checking for inflammatory markers, rheumatoid factor, antibodies, and uric acid levels), X-rays to evaluate joint damage and rule out fractures, and sometimes analysis of fluid withdrawn from swollen joints to check for infection or crystals. Treatment varies considerably by diagnosis. Osteoarthritis management typically includes weight loss if overweight (every pound lost removes four pounds of stress from knee joints), low-impact exercise to strengthen muscles supporting joints, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, topical pain creams, physical therapy, and assistive devices like knee braces or canes. Some patients benefit from corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections into affected joints. Rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory arthritis types require disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologic medications to suppress the immune system and prevent joint damage—early referral to a rheumatologist is often appropriate. Gout treatment involves medications to reduce uric acid levels and prevent future attacks, along with dietary modifications limiting high-purine foods and alcohol.
How to Prepare
Before your appointment, note which specific joints are painful, when symptoms started, and whether problems developed suddenly or gradually. Track whether joint stiffness is worse in the morning and how long it takes to improve with movement (prolonged morning stiffness suggests inflammatory arthritis). Keep a pain diary noting what activities worsen symptoms and what provides relief. If joints are swollen, note whether swelling is constant or intermittent. Document any previous joint injuries or surgeries. Bring a complete medication list including over-the-counter pain relievers and how often you use them. Note whether you've tried any treatments and their effectiveness. Be prepared to discuss family history of arthritis or autoimmune conditions. If you've had joint X-rays or other imaging, bring those reports. Wear or bring shorts if you have knee, hip, or ankle problems so your provider can examine joints easily. Consider what functional limitations concern you most—whether it's difficulty with stairs, getting in and out of cars, opening jars, or other specific activities—as this helps your provider understand treatment priorities. If you've noticed other symptoms like rashes, eye problems, or fatigue, mention these as they may indicate systemic inflammatory conditions affecting multiple body systems.
Have questions about joint pain and arthritis? Contact Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists & Primary Care at (203) 334-2100 to schedule your appointment.
