Joint pain is one of the most common medical complaints affecting people of all ages. While many consider it a normal part of aging, persistent joint pain should never be ignored. Early recognition and appropriate treatment can significantly improve quality of life. Dr. Karunagaran, Senior Orthopaedics and Spine Surgeon at C-Care Wellkin tells us more about the subject.

Throughout life’s journey, joints (areas where two bones meet) are essential as they allow movement and flexibility. Knee, hip, shoulder, fingers are some of the joints that are vulnerable to pain. When affected, they can limit mobility and interfere with daily activities. Medically know as arthralgia, joint pain can manifest as discomfort, aching, stiffness or soreness. In general, it is classified into three main categories:

• Traumatic joint pain

More common in younger individuals, this type is also usually related to injuries, such as ligament injuries or sports-related trauma. These often result from accidents, falls or high-impact activities.

• Inflammatory joint pain

This occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Common inflammatory conditions include Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and Crystal-induced arthritis such as gout, and are often associated with prolonged morning stiffness and visible joint swelling. Sometimes, they are also associated with fatigue or other systemic symptoms.

• Degenerative joint pain (Osteoarthritis)

This is the most common cause of joint pain worldwide and occurs due to gradual wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the joints. Aging, genetic predisposition, female sex (especially post-menopausal women), obesity and repetitive joint use are some of the key contributing factors. Previously, osteoarthritis mainly affected individuals above 60 years of age. However, due to lifestyle changes and increasing obesity rates, it is now being diagnosed more frequently in younger patients.

Good to know: osteoarthritis can also develop after joint fractures, previous ligament injuries or meniscal injuries.

How do we treat joint pain?

Management of joint pain requires a stepwise approach based on conservative treatment, medications, injections and surgery (if necessary).

1. Conservative treatment

This remains the cornerstone of treatment. It includes weight management, physiotherapy, low-impact exercises (swimming or cycling for example), activity modification and support devices such as knee braces, insoles or walking sticks. In many cases, these measures alone can improve significantly joint pain.

2. Medications

If conservative measures are insufficient, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed under medical supervision.

3. Injections

In some cases, intra-articular injections can provide temporary but meaningful relief from persistent pain. Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections are usually used to treat joint pain.

4. Surgery

When pain becomes severe and significantly limits daily activities, surgical intervention may be considered. Options include arthroscopic procedures or joint replacement surgery. Surgery is typically reserved for advanced cases.

Signs you should see an Orthopedic Surgeon

• Pain persists despite treatment

• Daily activities are affected

• You rely frequently on pain medication

• There is visible deformity or functional limitation

• Joint pain is associated with fever or significant swelling

New advances in treating joint pain

With joint pain affecting an increasing number of people, new treatment options are becoming available. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is one of those. This innovative treatment uses a patient’s own blood to help reduce joint pain and improve function. How does it work? Blood is drawn, processed to concentrate platelets, and injected into the affected joint. PRP works by releasing growth factors that reduce inflammation and may promote healing in early cartilage damage. It is most effective for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis and chronic tendon problems.

In cases of severe arthritis, PRP is not a cure and results can vary. However, it can delay the need for more invasive procedures like joint replacement and is considered a valuable option for patients seeking non-surgical relief.

Moreover, new pharmacologic treatments, although not available universally yet and still evolving, represent the future of joint pain treatment, aiming not just to reduce pain, but to slow disease progression and improve joint health. These include intra articular disease targeted drugs, non opioid pain modulators, cartilage regeneration strategies and gene therapy approaches.