Chronic joint pain most often involves the knees, hips, and shoulders, and osteoarthritis is the leading cause in adults. Cartilage wear, inflammation, and prior injuries all contribute, and pain often flares with activity or weather changes.
Joint pain that persists tends to shrink daily life gradually: fewer stairs, shorter walks, more caution. It does not have to be managed with over-the-counter pills indefinitely.
Common symptoms
- Stiffness that doesn’t loosen up with movement
- Pain that flares with activity or weather changes
- Swelling that comes and goes
- Trouble with stairs, kneeling, or long walks
How interventional pain physicians treat it
Interventional pain physicians typically aim to reduce pain enough to keep joints moving, since strength and mobility protect joints over time. Care may include:
- Physical therapy
- Joint injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Regenerative treatment options
Treatment is always determined by a physician based on individual evaluation. This page is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is radiofrequency ablation for joint pain?
It uses heat to quiet the small sensory nerves that carry pain from a joint, such as the genicular nerves around the knee. Relief commonly lasts many months and the procedure can be repeated.
Are steroid injections bad for joints?
Used judiciously, steroid injections are a standard, effective tool for flares. Specialists space them appropriately and combine them with therapy so they support, rather than substitute for, longer-term treatment.
What are regenerative treatment options?
These include therapies such as platelet-rich plasma that aim to support the body’s healing response. Evidence varies by joint and condition, and a specialist can explain where they are and are not well supported.
Independent, physician-owned practices in the DxTx network provide this kind of care across 11 states. One call connects you to the practice closest to you.