Cleveland’s Pain Management for 
Knee’s Hips & Shoulders

Get Relief For Your Joint Pain

Knee Pain

We have an entire page dedicated to providing information on knee pain including common causes such as arthritis, bursitis, and knee injury.

Hip Pain

Arthritis of the hip is a common condition that is typically encountered in patients starting in their 50’s. Because it’s the largest joint in the body, the hip joint is susceptible to the development of several different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. Less frequent causes of hip pain include collagen vascular diseases, infection, and Lyme disease.

Hip pain is characterized by pain in the groin, upper thigh, or low back and is typically felt on the same side as the affected hip. Activities such as sleeping, walking, climbing stairs, and getting up from a seated position may be impaired and most movement will worsen the pain. Patients may notice a grating or popping sensation in the hip joint and decreased function as hip pain progresses.

A common test for hip joint pain is the FABER test, which includes flexion, abduction, external rotation, and extension of the hip joint. Diagnosis of hip pain usually starts with x-rays or an MRI. Treatment of hip pain typically starts with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy and injection of steroids directly into the hip joint can also be used as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Other physical modalities include rest, heat, and range of motion exercises. As a last resort, orthopedic surgeons can replace the hip with an artificial one. One must also realize that knee and low back conditions, tendonitis, muscles strains and sprains, and infections can refer pain to the hip, so these conditions must also be ruled out.

Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is a complex joint that is susceptible to injury and arthritis (the most common being osteoarthritis). The usual sign of a problem is pain that is localized around the shoulder and upper arm and described as constant, deep, and aching. It may interfere with sleep and feel worse with any kind of activity. Reduced range of motion can lead to a gradual reduction in the functional ability which can make everyday tasks difficult and painful. Patients may also notice a popping sensation or grinding sensation in the shoulder joint.

There are many reasons that will cause pain in the shoulder joint. These include arthritis of the shoulder joint, acromioclavicular joint pain, subdeltoid bursa pain, bicipital tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), bicep tears, supraspinatis syndrome, rotator cuff tear, deltoid syndrome, teres major syndrome, scapulocostal syndrome, and avascular necrosis of the glenohumeral joint.

Diagnostic workup can include tests such as x-rays, MRIs, and bone scans.  Differential diagnoses include rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, collagen vascular disease, infections, and Lyme disease.

Treatment may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, application of heat and ice, physical therapy, and intrararticular injections of steroids.