When Should I See My Doctor About Joint Pain?

It’s a question that may arise after a vigorous workout session or even after just getting out of bed. But whether it’s your shoulder, knee, ankle or another joint in the body, the question is the same: Do I need to see a doctor about this pain?

Kristopher J. Paultre, M.D., a family medicine and primary care sports medicine specialist with the UHealth Sports Medicine Institute, says you can simplify things by focusing on two elements of pain. “If it’s severe or long-lasting, then you should talk to a doctor about it,” he says.

Understanding joint pain

While those are the basics, there’s more nuance to it. Dr. Paultre says that “long-lasting” pain can mean pain that is always there, or goes away and comes back with certain movements, such as exercise. The nature of pain can also vary based on the joint that’s affected. It may be sharp, piercing, dull or even sore, and impacts the ability to move the joint.

“People know their body, so if something feels abnormal, it’s worth a visit with the doctor,” says Dr. Paultre. “For example, you may have something that feels like typical soreness after a long run, but if it doesn’t go away after a week, it’s time to get it checked out.”

Other indications of joint problems

Of course, there are other indicators that something is seriously wrong with a joint that requires medical attention.

Those symptoms include joint pain along with:

• Tenderness or warmth
• Swelling or redness
• A misshapen joint
• Inability to use the joint
• Accompanying fever
• Severe pain

When you enter your 40s or 50s, new aches and pains appear.

Despite these natural changes, Dr. Paultre says that the same rules apply. Though you may experience more soreness than you used to, you should see your doctor when something really feels off, such as lingering or persistent pain. Above all else, he recommends continuing to exercise and move through the natural soreness of aging joints, as exercise is critically important, especially as we age.

“If you feel like you want to consult with a doctor at any time, we always welcome those visits,” says Dr. Paultre. “Even if you’re not sure if something is wrong or not, it’s always worth a consultation to get an assessment of how things are looking and what you should focus on to maintain your health and mobility.”

Consult a sports medicine specialist

If you’re an aging athlete or just someone who wants to stay active, Dr. Paultre also recommends getting a referral from a primary care provider to a sports medicine specialist to assess your joint pain. Sports medicine specialists work to keep patients as active as possible as they grow older. If your focus is getting back to action, they’ll recommend the treatments, exercises and physical therapy treatments to get you back to what you enjoy doing.

“Of course, if surgery is necessary, we will make those referrals, but our goal is to avoid it whenever possible to keep people healthy and active,” says Dr. Paultre. “We have a variety of treatments now, such as dry needling, medication and more, to address joint pain and keep people moving.”

Wyatt Myers is a contributor for UHealth’s news service.

Tags: Ankle pain, chronic pain, Dr. Kristopher Paultre, Joint pain symptoms, knee pain, shoulder pain