The joint pain that builds over time.
Osteoarthritis is the gradual wearing of cartilage inside a joint — most often the knee, hip, or shoulder. It's one of the most common pain conditions we treat, and while it can't be reversed, it can be managed effectively enough that most people get their life back without surgery.
Your doctor may call this degenerative joint disease or OA.
Often seen within a few days — sometimes as soon as tomorrowRequest your first visit
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No referral needed. We verify your insurance before you arrive.
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What osteoarthritis really is.
Healthy joints are cushioned by cartilage — a firm, slippery tissue that lets bones glide smoothly. Osteoarthritis develops when that cartilage wears down, causing the bones to move with more friction, triggering inflammation, and eventually causing the joint to change shape. The process is gradual, which is why many people write off early symptoms as normal aging until the pain becomes hard to ignore.
Age is the biggest risk factor, but OA also develops faster in joints that have been injured, overloaded, or are malaligned. That means it doesn't exclusively affect older adults — knee OA, for instance, is increasingly seen in people in their 40s and 50s, particularly those with prior sports injuries or whose jobs involve repetitive loading.
The good news
OA is not a death sentence for the joint. Targeted treatment — the right injections, specific exercise, weight management, and activity modification — can reduce pain significantly and slow progression. Many people with moderate-to-severe OA on imaging have mild or manageable symptoms once the joint environment is better supported.
Imaging vs. symptoms
X-ray findings of OA — joint-space narrowing, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis — often don't correlate neatly with pain severity. We treat the patient, not the image. Someone with severe radiographic OA may function well; someone with moderate changes may be significantly limited. The clinical picture guides treatment far more than the grade alone.
Common signs we treat.
Morning stiffness
The joint feels stiff and hard to move when you first wake up or after sitting for a while — typically loosening within 20–30 minutes once you're moving, which distinguishes OA from inflammatory arthritis.
Aching that worsens with use
Pain that builds through the day or after activity, then eases with rest — often described as a deep, grinding ache that's predictably worse after long walks, stairs, or standing for extended periods.
Swelling around the joint
Puffiness or a feeling of tightness around the affected joint, particularly after activity — caused by increased joint fluid as the body responds to cartilage breakdown.
From hurting to healed.
We work from the least-invasive options upward, escalating only if you need it. Most patients improve well before surgery is ever discussed.
Diagnose the cause
A physician examines you and, if needed, reviews imaging to pinpoint exactly what's driving the pain.
Calm it down
Targeted physical therapy, activity guidance, and medication to settle the irritation and reduce inflammation.
Image-guided injections
If pain persists, a precisely targeted injection delivered to the source under imaging.
Advanced options
For the few who need more, minimally invasive interventional procedures — with surgery as a last resort.
Treatment is matched to your specific diagnosis at your visit. The options shown reflect NASPAC's general approach and should be confirmed against the practice's verified procedure list.
Still have questions?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis — a wear-and-tear condition where the cartilage cushioning the joint gradually breaks down, causing friction, inflammation, and pain. It most often affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine, and tends to develop over years rather than suddenly.
While cartilage damage can't be reversed, its progression can be influenced. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces joint load significantly — even a 10-pound reduction makes a measurable difference in knee OA. Targeted exercise that strengthens the muscles supporting the joint also slows disease progression and reduces pain more reliably than most medications.
Physical therapy focused on joint mechanics and muscle strength, activity modification, weight management, anti-inflammatory medications, and image-guided injections all have a role depending on severity and which joint is involved. The combination is typically more effective than any single approach alone.
For many patients, yes — particularly corticosteroid injections for managing inflammation during flare-ups, and hyaluronic acid injections to improve joint lubrication in moderate OA. PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is an emerging option that may offer longer-lasting benefit in earlier-stage disease. We match the injection type to your specific degree of arthritis and functional goals.
Stop living with the joint pain.
Book with a board-certified pain physician near you — most patients are seen within days.
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