Joint pain

At Newman Regional Health in Emporia, KS, we understand how joint pain can impact your daily life. Whether it’s due to arthritis, injury, or other conditions, our providers work as a team to provide you with comprehensive care, from diagnosis to advanced treatments, to get you back to moving comfortably.

Understanding Joint Pain

Joint pain can range from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating aches that affect mobility. It may occur in one joint or multiple areas and can be constant or intermittent. Common symptoms include swelling, stiffness, redness, and reduced range of motion. If you’re experiencing joint pain, seeking professional medical advice is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management.

Causes of Joint Pain

Joint pain can stem from various underlying issues. Some of the most common causes include:

• Arthritis: Including osteoarthritis (wear and tear of joint cartilage), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder), psoriatic arthritis, and gout (crystal deposits in joints).
• Injuries: Such as sprains, strains, broken bones, bursitis (inflammation of fluid-filled sacs near joints), or tendinitis (inflammation of tendons).
• Infections: Like septic arthritis, Lyme disease, or viral infections such as hepatitis B or C.
• Other Conditions: Fibromyalgia, lupus, hypothyroidism, bone cancer, leukemia, or avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to lack of blood supply).

At Newman Regional Health, we frequently treat joint pain related to arthritis, joint degeneration, sports injuries, and overuse, helping patients identify the root cause through personalized evaluations.

Diagnosis of Joint Pain

Diagnosing joint pain involves a thorough assessment to pinpoint the cause. Our specialists at Newman Regional Health Medical Partners use a combination of methods to ensure accurate results:

• Physical Examination: Checking for swelling, redness, warmth, and evaluating range of motion in the affected joints.
• Laboratory Tests: Analyzing blood, urine, or joint fluid (obtained via aspiration) to detect inflammation, infection, or specific markers like those for rheumatoid arthritis.
• Imaging Tests:
  • X-rays to visualize bone damage, cartilage loss, or spurs.
  • CT scans for detailed cross-sectional views of bones and soft tissues.
  • MRI for in-depth images of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
  • Ultrasound to assess soft tissues and guide procedures like fluid removal.

Our diagnostic approach is tailored to your symptoms, ensuring we address conditions like arthritis or injuries effectively.

Treatment Options for Joint Pain

Treatment for joint pain aims to reduce pain, improve function, and prevent further damage. Options vary based on the cause and severity, and may include:

• Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation, steroids for quick relief, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
• Physical Therapy: Exercises to strengthen muscles around joints, improve flexibility, and enhance range of motion. We may recommend splints or braces for support.
• Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss to reduce stress on joints, low-impact exercises like swimming, heat/cold therapy, and assistive devices such as canes or shoe inserts.
• Non-Surgical Interventions: Corticosteroid injections, Viscosupplementation Treatment for Knee Arthritis, Hyaluronic acid injections and others interventions.
• Surgical Interventions: For severe cases, options include joint repair (arthroscopy), joint replacement (e.g., hip, knee, or shoulder), or joint fusion.

At Newman Regional Health, we emphasize conservative treatments first, such as medications and therapy for knee pain. For advanced cases, we offer cutting-edge procedures like Mako Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement, which provides precise surgery with less pain and faster recovery. Our surgeons also perform total hip, knee, and shoulder replacements, ACL repairs, rotator cuff repairs, and fracture fixes.