Joint Pain Series: Do I Need to See a Doctor About Arthritis?

Do I need to see a doctor about arthritis? Good question. We’d say that if joint pain is regularly affecting your quality of life, it’s time to be proactive about getting the treatment you need.

You’re fairly certain the joint pain you’re experiencing is the result of Osteoarthritis. Now what? Are their effective ways to treat joint degeneration? Do you need to go see a doctor, and if so, how soon should you schedule an appointment?

Do I Need to See a Doctor About Arthritis?

First, it’s important to assess your symptoms. Understanding the types of symptoms you’re experiencing and gauging their severity will help you determine whether or not it’s time to see a doctor.

Are you experiencing one or more of the following symptoms?

• Pain and tenderness in the joint area

• Stiffness and limited range of motion

• Swelling of the joint

• Clicking or cracking sounds in the joint

Ask yourself the following additional questions:

• Does my pain increase with movement?

• Is the stiffness most noticeable just after rest?

• Have my symptoms become gradually worse over time?

• Is joint pain affecting my quality of life?

If you have one or more of the symptoms listed and you answered “yes” to one or more of the questions above, then it’s time to act. You asked, “Do I need to see a doctor about arthritis?” and our answer is: YES!

Knowing When to Call

1. Call for an appointment if you’ve had symptoms for multiple, consecutive days.

2. Call if your symptoms flare up multiple times within the same month.

3. Call if you notice the following specific symptoms of hip or knee arthritis:

Hip arthritis will often manifest as pain in the groin, buttocks or inner thighs. Do not dismiss this pain and assume it is some other problem! This very well may be your body alerting you to the fact that the degeneration within your hip joint is getting worse. For those with knee pain, the additional symptom of a grating or scraping noise or sensation within the joint can indicate that you’ve reached a point of bone-on-bone contact.

These are all reasons to make an appointment immediately with a joint specialist.

It’s Time to Get Back to an Active Lifestyle

The bottom line is that joint pain can wreak havoc on your quality of life. You owe it to yourself to address the onset of arthritis as soon as possible. A qualified physician will be able to offer the best treatment to help you manage your condition and prevent further wear and tear. If you’re wondering, “Do I need to see a doctor about arthritis,” simply pick up the phone and call for an appointment. Stop asking and start taking action!

If you’re looking for the best physicians to address your arthritis, you’ll find them at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Read more about why our team is renowned nationally and preferred regionally. Or for more information, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999. We’d love to answer any questions you have and set you up with an appointment to get started on the road toward pain relief.

If you’re still wondering, “How do I know if I have arthritis?” or if you have additional questions about the information you read here, check out the rest of the articles in our helpful series on joint pain:

Joint Series - Blog 1: Why do I Have Joint Pain?

Common Causes of Joint Pain

How do I Know if I Have Arthritis

Do I Need to See a Doctor About Arthritis

Joint Series - Blog 2: What are my Treatment Options for Arthritis?

Best Joint Treatment Options

Best Physician for Arthritis

Joint Series - Blog 3: Do I Need a Joint Replacement?

Joint Replacement Recovery