People dealing with joint pain have more treatment choices

Joint pain can be frightening. It can keep people from enjoying the activities they love and make everyday tasks harder. Joint pain is also one of many conditions affecting the bones, joints and muscles, which are among the leading causes of disability worldwide.

For many people, though, the bigger worry is not the pain itself but what treatment may require.

“Many people think that seeing someone in orthopedics automatically means getting surgery,” said Dr. Lee Kenyon, an orthopedic sports medicine physician at Aspirus Health. “But, especially nowadays, that’s often not the case.”

Dr. Kenyon said people living with joint pain should know they have options. Orthopedic care has changed a great deal in recent years, with major growth in both diagnostic tools and treatments.

“We have lots of procedures now that weren’t available five or 10 years ago,” he said. “That means we’re able to offer a whole menu of options, many of which are non-surgical.” Those options include physical therapy, bracing, activity changes, medications, injections and other minimally invasive methods aimed at easing pain and improving movement.

Improvements in ultrasound technology are also helping doctors identify pain more accurately. Musculoskeletal ultrasound uses sound waves to produce real-time images of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Unlike traditional imaging that captures only a single moment, ultrasound lets specialists evaluate these structures while a patient is moving. That can help pinpoint the source of discomfort, support more exact diagnoses and guide individualized treatment plans.

For some structures close to the surface, such as tendons and ligaments, musculoskeletal ultrasound can offer image quality comparable to or even better than MRI. It also provides real-time information during an office visit, without the need for separate scheduling and later review in some cases.

These advances help orthopedic specialists diagnose and treat a broad range of conditions. “Basically, anything related to the shoulders, wrists, hands, knees or hips,” Dr. Kenyon said. Common problems include arthritis, overuse injuries, tendon injuries and tendinitis.

The earlier these problems are identified, the sooner treatment can begin and recovery can get started.

Early care can often keep small issues from becoming more serious. Dr. Kenyon recommends scheduling an evaluation if:

• Pain is not improving with rest
• Symptoms worsen over time
• Pain is disrupting sleep
• A joint becomes swollen or red
• Pain is limiting activities
• There is weakness, instability or reduced mobility

Do not let fear of treatment keep you from seeking care.

If joint pain is affecting daily life or preventing people from doing the hobbies they enjoy, Aspirus encourages them to speak with a primary care provider or orthopedic specialist. To learn more or find a provider, visit aspirus.org/orthopedics.

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