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Joint Pain & Stiffness


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Understanding the Basics Behind Joint Pain


What is Joint Pain & Stiffness?

Suffering from joint pain and stiffness can negatively affect your daily life—Without the proper range of motion, it may become harder to perform daily tasks or enjoy the things you love most.

Joint pain often comes from the hands, feet, hips, knees, and spine; however, other areas of the body may also be affected.

When you visit a Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance joint specialist, your treatment plan will not only focus on pain management but also long-lasting functionality.

Causes

Causes of Joint Pain & Stiffness

As with many musculoskeletal conditions, joint pain and stiffness is a multi-faceted issue with a range of possible underlying factors.

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease, may lead to joint pain as bones rub together from cartilage degeneration.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

While not as common as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis causes joint pain and swelling.

Bursitis:

Bursitis affects the small sacs (bursae) that cushion the bones, muscles, and tendons around a joint. The condition typically develops from repetitive motion.

Tendonitis:

Since tendons connect muscle to bone, inflammation could cause pain around the joint.

Acute Injuries:

Injuries such as bone fractures or strains may impact the joint.

Joint pain doesn’t come from a singular cause; rather, there are multiple factors that could lead to the condition. In some cases, an acute injury could cause joint pain. However, it most commonly develops over time from repetitive movements.

Rather than waiting until the pain worsens, if you suffer from joint pain symptoms, it’s often best to seek medical help for proactive solutions.

Symptoms


Symptoms of Joint Pain

Joint pain symptoms may manifest in different ways, depending on the underlying condition.

Common symptoms of joint pain include:

  • Aching or soreness
  • Burning
  • Continuous “throbbing” sensation
  • Feeling like the joint is “grating”
  • Stiffness in the morning that loosens throughout the day
  • Sharp pain when moving the affected joint

Some symptoms may be more serious than others, such as:

  • Swelling
  • Enlarged joint
  • Clicking, grinding, snapping, or other sounds when moving joint
  • Inability to bend or straighten joint
  • Numbness
  • Red, hot, and swollen joint

If you suffer from joint pain symptoms, visiting an orthopedic provider in Kansas City can help you manage pain so you can return to your normal activities.

Rather than waiting until the pain worsens, it’s often best to seek medical help for proactive solutions.

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Affected Areas

  • Hands
  • Wrist
  • Elbow
  • Shoulder
  • Hip
  • Knee
  • Foot & Ankle
  • Spine

Treatments

  • Exercise/Physical Therapy
  • Medications
  • Supplements
  • Injections
  • Bracing/Casting
  • Surgery
  • Other Specialized Treatments

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance Joint Paint and Stiffness Assessment


Assessing the Injury

If you suspect you have joint pain or stiffness, it is important you schedule an appointment as soon as possible. That way, we can assess the issue and determine the best course of action moving forward.

Often, our physicians can diagnose you through a physical examination alone. However, if we require more information or want to rule out other underlying conditions, we may order an X-ray or other imaging.

During your initial visit, we will ask you to fill out paperwork detailing your condition. You should also bring any X-rays or diagnostic tests you’ve had performed prior to coming to Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance for treatment. Lastly, we’ll require proof of insurance or form of payment for the provision of the services rendered.

During your initial appointment, we will often ask questions such as:

After your assessment, we will devise a tendinitis treatment plan centered on the severity of the condition, your unique lifestyle, and long-term goals.

Your First Appointment

  • Does your pain currently limit you or your activities?
  • Has your pain progressed or worsened recently?
  • Have you noticed any change in your symptoms that has made it more challenging to function?
  • What are your lifestyle goals?
  • How has pain affected those goals?

Injury Prevention


How to Prevent Joint Pain & Stiffness

Joint pain isn’t 100% preventable, but it is always important to take proper care of your joints. When your joints are healthy, they are less likely to become worn down, though some wear and tear is expected as your body ages.

Taking care of your bones and joints is something you should implement in your daily life. We recommend regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and monitoring your blood sugar levels if you’re diabetic. In doing so, you may reduce the amount of stress on your joints to slow down any potential degenerative process. 

You should also assess your pain levels. Rather than waiting until the problem becomes severe, note when your pain deters you from your daily activities. It’s often best to seek medical attention from one of our orthopedic joint specialists to help manage these problems when you are experiencing limitations in your activity.

About Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance

Meet Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance

Our board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians and surgeons are highly experienced in their respective fields and are considered among the top orthopedic providers in the Midwest.

Along with our Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and support staff, Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physicians deliver the utmost level of dedicated care across a range of subspecialties.

While diverse in background and capabilities, the common thread that brings all of our team members together is our patient-centered approach.

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Joint pain doesn’t have to last.

Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.

With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.

Use our Symptom Tracker Tool to connect with the right Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physician for your unique needs—and get back to the things that matter most.

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Testimonials

I left a very happy patient.

…I arrived a little bit late. I got checked in quickly and was back in a room within 10 minutes. Dr Rhodes was very friendly and took the time to pull up pictures of my surgery and show them and explain them to me. I left a very happy patient.

Michael Bachmann

Wouldn't go any place else

Wouldn’t go any place else to have orthopedic specialist. Facility is state of the art and rehabilitation program the best.
Edward Straley

Amazing!

Shannon was amazing! She took the time give me options and explained everything to great detail. She is also very skilled. Shoulder injection with almost no discomfort!

Matthew Herrman

Very caring

Shannon is very caring and encouraging. She listens to my questions and explains what to expect going forward very thoroughly. Hopefully I don’t need my other shoulder replaced, but if I did I would come back to Shannon and Dr. Van Den Berghe.

Becky Edson

Definitely recommend

Stephanie took great care in explaining my son’s injury and future implications. I feel like we fully understood the injury and what he needed to do to allow it to heal. I would definitely recommend Stephanie!

Jan Kornis