Knee,hip and shoulder pain - Unique Pain Medicine

Knee, hip and shoulder pain

Arthritis of the Knee

Joint pain is extremely common. Damage to the joints from chronic use, arthritis or injury can interfere with your movement and cause extreme pain and discomfort.

We offer joint pain treatments in our Manhattan and Brooklyn locations.

Let’s discuss the most common conditions that cause joint pain, along with treatments that we offer to help eliminate the pain you are experiencing.

Knee osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage protecting the ends of bones gradually deteriorates, and the joint loses its shock-absorbing qualities. The bones begin to rub against each other. This may cause daily pain and limit mobility and range of motion in the knee. This usually occurs over time as we age.

Symptoms of Knee Osteoarthritis include:

Pain in the knee that typically gets worse

Stiffness and decrease mobility

Swelling in the knee. One knee may become significantly bigger due to fluid buildup.

Knee pain may make it very difficult to walk or exercise.

Treatments for Knee Osteoarthritis

There are many treatment options available. If your arthritis is not severe, various treatments can bring your pain down to a very manageable level. Treatment options include:

Knee Steroid Injection – injection of steroid into the knee joint. This will decrease pain and inflammation

Viscosupplementation – Gel injected into the knee to provide more cushion.

Genicular Nerve Block – injection of local anesthetic and steroid around the nerves that supply the knee capsule. This can block painful stimuli to the knee.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of the genicular nerves. This is heat therapy to the nerves around the knee. This can provide long lasting pain relief.

Physical Therapy – This will help to increase mobility and decrease pain.

Anti-inflammatory medication – can be taken by mouth to reduce inflammation and pain.

Knee Brace – this will hold the knee in place and minimize pain when walking.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis (Oa) And Degeneration

Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that involves two primary processes. The cartilage in the joints breaks down, and abnormal bony growths called osteophytes, or bone spurs, develop in the joint. This causes a great deal of pain and reduced range of motion.

As the cartilage wears away, the protective cushioning between the bones becomes thinner. Without this smooth layer, the bones in the shoulder begin to rub directly against each other during movement. This friction leads to inflammation, swelling, and further deterioration of the joint surfaces over time.

The development of bone spurs is the body’s attempt to stabilize the joint. However, these extra bone growths often make the problem worse. They can limit normal shoulder movement, pinch nearby soft tissues, and contribute to stiffness. Many people notice increased difficulty lifting the arm, rotating the shoulder, or performing overhead activities.

Over time, the surrounding muscles and tendons may also become strained because they must work harder to compensate for the weakened joint. This can lead to shoulder fatigue, muscle imbalance, and occasional clicking, catching, or grinding sensations inside the joint. Pain often worsens with activity, improves with rest, and may become more constant as the condition progresses.

Can osteoarthritis cause shoulder pain?

Yes, degenerative changes can cause pain and stiffness in the shoulder. This can ultimately lead to frozen shoulder if not treated.

Can you get osteoarthritis in your shoulder?

Yes, you can get osteoarthritis from over use, age related wear and tear, and prior injury.

How do you treat osteoarthritis in shoulder?

Shoulder osteoarthritis is treated with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy with emphasis on stretching and strengthening, shoulder steroid injections, and regenerative treatments.

Treatments for Shoulder Osteoarthritis (OA) And Degeneration Include:

There are many treatment options available. If your arthritis is not severe, various treatments can bring your pain down to a very manageable level. Treatment options include:

Joint injection – injection of steroid into the shoulder joint.
Physical Therapy
Anti-inflammatory medication

Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)

Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) can develop from arthritis, rotator cuff tears, and adhesions in the shoulder. The patient will have pain when raising the arm and will experience a reduction in range of motion. Frozen shoulder occurs in about 2% of the general population and commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60. This condition occurs in women more often than men. Early diagnosis and treatment is required for a full recovery.

What causes adhesive capsulitis of shoulder?

There is no specific cause, but risk factors include older age, being female, history of shoulder injury, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.

How to diagnose adhesive capsulitis of shoulder?

Your doctor will perform a physical exam to evaluate the range of motion in your shoulder. X-ray and MRI will help to pinpoint the cause.

Treatments for Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)

Joint injection
Physical Therapy
Joint manual manipulation

Hip Osteoarthritis (OA) And Degeneration

Osteoarthritis develops due to degeneration of cartilage. This happens slowly over time and causes pain which worsens gradually. As the cartilage wears, it becomes frayed and the protective joint space between the bones decreases. To make up for the loss of cartilage, the damaged bones may begin to grow outward forming bone spurs known as osteophytes. A hip damaged by osteoarthritis that is left untreated may lead to disability and/or surgical intervention. This is why it is crucial to seek nonsurgical treatment by a certified pain management specialist when you begin to experience hip pain.

What causes osteoarthritis in the hip?

This occurs due to loss of cartilage that cushions your bone, resulting in stiffness and pain.

What does hip osteoarthritis feel like?

The patient will complain of hip pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion. Walking can be painful.

How to relieve osteoarthritis pain in hip?

Hip osteoarthritis is treated with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy with emphasis on stretching and strengthening, hip steroid injections, and regenerative treatments. Wight loss may help as well.

Can hip osteoarthritis cause leg pain?

Yes, pain from osteoarthritis in the hip can go down your leg.

Can hip osteoarthritis cause sciatica?

No, sciatica is term used when the sciatic nerve is compressed along its path. However, since the pain can be in a similar location, hip pain and sciatica may mimic each other.

Can osteoarthritis in hip cause back pain?

Yes, pain in the hip can lead to poor posture and a limp, resulting in poor biomechanics and back pain.

What does osteoarthritis hip pain feel like?

Most people complain of achy, dull, throbbing, and deep pain.

Can hip osteoarthritis be reversed?

No, once changes occur they can not be reversed without surgery. However, you can start treatment to stop the progression.

Treatments for Hip Osteoarthritis (OA) and Degeneration include:

Joint injections
Physical Therapy

Ankle Pain

Ankle pain can be caused by an injury or a condition such as osteoarthritis, tendinitis, gout, or stress fractures. In some instances, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis can be treatable causes of ankle pain. At Unique Pain Medicine we treat all forms of ankle pain using the most comprehensive treatment methods.

If you are suffering from joint pain and need help we invite you to talk with our team of talented pain management specialists at Unique Pain Medicine. You can learn more about different types of pain and pain management treatments as well as schedule an appointment by booking online or calling 929-363-0303.