Joint pain is incredibly common—and for many people, the first suspect is osteoarthritis. But not every ache is simple wear-and-tear. At MidAmerica Orthopaedics’ Total Joint Clinic we see patients who thought their pain was “just arthritis” only to learn it was something that needed a different, and sometimes urgent, treatment plan. Knowing when to seek specialist evaluation preserves options and speeds recovery.

How arthritis usually presents

Osteoarthritis tends to develop gradually. Typical features include:

• Pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.
• Morning stiffness that eases within 30 minutes.
• Gradual loss of range of motion and function over months or years.
• X-ray changes such as joint space narrowing and bone spurs (in many—but not all—cases).

If your symptoms match that pattern and respond to conservative measures—therapy, weight management, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory treatment—arthritic care is often the correct pathway.

When to worry: symptoms that suggest something more

Certain signs should prompt a prompt orthopaedic evaluation rather than conservative waiting:

• Sudden severe pain after minor trauma. This may indicate a fracture, tendon rupture, or acute cartilage injury.
• Rapid or unusual swelling, warmth, or redness. These are red flags for infection or inflammatory arthritis.
• Joint instability or locking. A knee that gives out, or a hip that feels unstable, can indicate ligament or labral damage rather than simple arthritis.
• Night pain that consistently wakes you. Persistent nighttime pain, especially when it’s not relieved by typical measures, warrants investigation.
• Neurologic symptoms. Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness accompanying joint pain suggest nerve involvement which changes treatment priorities.
• Failing conservative care. If you’ve completed an appropriate course of physical therapy, medications, and injections without improvement, it’s time to consult a specialist.

Common non-arthritic causes we evaluate

• Traumatic fractures or stress fractures
• Tendon or ligament tears (e.g., ACL, MCL, rotator cuff)
• Meniscal or labral pathology (knee and hip respectively)
• Inflammatory arthritides (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis)
• Septic arthritis or osteomyelitis (infection of joint/bone)
• Referred pain from the spine or pelvis

What happens in a Total Joint Clinic evaluation

Our multidisciplinary Total Joint Clinic is designed to answer questions quickly and accurately. Typical elements include:

• A focused history and physical exam to identify red flags and functional limitations.
• On-site imaging (X-ray and, when needed, advanced imaging) to clarify the problem the same day.
• Multidisciplinary interpretation—surgeons, advanced practice clinicians, and therapists together help differentiate arthritis from other causes.
• A tailored plan: continuing conservative care, image-guided injections, bracing, targeted physical therapy, or prompt surgical consultation if indicated.

Why timing matters

Delaying specialist care can allow secondary damage to accumulate—worsening cartilage loss, unstable joints becoming more destructive, or infections progressing. Early assessment preserves options: sometimes a targeted arthroscopic procedure or ligament repair can restore function and prevent the need for joint replacement later.

Patient-centered next steps

If your pain is new, changing, or not improving with treatment, contact us for an evaluation. We’ll help you understand what’s causing your pain and lay out realistic, personalized options so you can get back to the activities you care about.