Any pain in or around a joint can be classified as joint pain. It occurs whether you are young or old, active or inactive. You experience joint pain when any of the structures within your joint - bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendon, or bursae - become inflamed, worn down, or overused. Let’s consider what your joint pain is telling you.

Some of the most common causes for joint pain are: arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, overuse injury, and joint instability.

Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation along the joint surfaces affecting the smooth cartilage at the end of the bone. It causes the surface of the bone to become rough and form spurs or other irregularities. It can be quite painful to bend and straighten your knees or hips when you have arthritis. You may also experience joint swelling, stiffness, weakness, clicking, or grinding.

Tendonitis and bursitis are when these soft tissue structures of the joint become irritated, inflamed or torn. Although both tendonitis and bursitis cause joint pain, tendonitis is usually the result of an increase in activity level that injures the tendon and bursitis is mainly due to direct trauma to the region.

Overuse injuries to the joints occur when working in awkward positions, repetitive movements, using heavy or vibrating equipment, or pressing against a hard surface for long periods of time, like when kneeling.

Joint instability may occur when the tendons and ligaments have weakened and become lax and cannot hold the joints in their proper position.

Joint pain that develops fairly quickly and is accompanied by fever or flu-like symptoms may be an indication of joint infection and should be evaluated as soon as possible to establish a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Most joint pains can be managed conservatively with medications, physical therapy, or orthobiologic injections that can promote healing of injured tissue. If these therapies fail to alleviate symptoms, surgery may be performed either to repair and preserve the joint or to replace the joint depending on the severity of the joint damage.

Over the last several decades there has been considerable advances in joint replacement surgery, ensuring the joints implants can be precisely placed inside the body to give a normal feel and function.

Book an appointment for accurate diagnosis and treatment of joint pain that is restricting your activities.

Dr. Frisch is an orthopedic surgeon focusing on minimally invasive hip and knee joint replacement as well as regenerative treatments for enhanced healing. He believes in creating a very personalized experience with the highest level of service. For all appointments & inquiries, please contact our offices located in Rochester and River District, MI.