The Back Pain Doctor
Arthritis simply means inflammation of a joint, and it causes pain, swelling and stiffness. Although each type has a different cause, the symptoms and much of the treatment overlap. Any joint can be affected, but arthritis is especially common in weight-bearing joints such as the knee, hip and spine. There is no cure, but many treatment options help manage pain and keep people active.
There are four broad categories. Osteoarthritis — the most common — is the gradual wearing of the smooth cartilage that cushions the joint, from ageing, overuse or previous injury, and often forms bone spurs. Inflammatory arthritis results from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis) or crystal build-up (gout and pseudogout), and usually needs specialist rheumatology care. Post-traumatic arthritis develops after a joint injury such as a fracture that damages the cartilage surface. Septic arthritis is a joint infection — typically a hot, red, acutely tender, swollen joint — which is a medical emergency needing urgent treatment. Diagnosis rests on the history, examination and, where needed, X-rays, blood tests or joint-fluid analysis.
For the common wear-and-tear forms, our role is to confirm the diagnosis and build a practical, rehabilitation-focused plan — exercise, weight management, activity modification and simple pain relief are the foundations, with other options considered where symptoms persist. We help identify features that point to an inflammatory or infective cause needing specialist or urgent care, and are clear about when a surgical opinion, such as joint replacement, becomes worthwhile.
The options below include the treatments offered at The Back Pain Doctor. Listing a treatment does not mean it is recommended for this condition. The evidence, likely benefit and role of each option are considered against the diagnosis, examination findings, imaging where appropriate, patient goals, risks, cost and alternatives.
This is the starting point for most musculoskeletal conditions.
The priority is to identify the likely pain generator, explain the condition clearly, modify aggravating load and build a realistic plan to restore strength, movement and confidence.
Evidence is condition-specific; it is not a universal pain treatment.
Shockwave is best framed as an adjunct where the diagnosis fits. It is generally more established for selected tendon and plantar heel pain presentations than for many joint or nerve conditions.
Read moreEvidence varies substantially by condition, tissue and preparation method.
PRP may be discussed in selected tendon or joint presentations. It should not be presented as a guaranteed regenerative treatment, and uncertainty, cost and alternatives should be discussed.
Read moreBest used for specific inflammatory or irritable pain generators, usually for short-term relief.
An injection may help when a joint, bursa, tendon sheath or other defined structure is driving symptoms. It is not a cure and needs to be weighed against risks, recurrence and the need for rehabilitation.
Read moreClinical evidence is still developing and guideline support is limited.
EMTT may be discussed as an adjunct in selected presentations, but should be presented with clear uncertainty and never as a replacement for diagnosis, load management or rehabilitation.
Read moreEvidence is condition-specific and generally less established than exercise-based care.
Prolotherapy may be considered in carefully selected chronic ligament, tendon or joint-related pain presentations, but it is not a first-line treatment.
Read moreMost relevant when focal myofascial pain is a clear contributor.
Trigger point treatment may reduce pain from focal muscle spasm or myofascial tenderness. It should be paired with movement restoration, strength work and recurrence prevention.
Read moreRelevant only when the history and examination support nerve irritation or entrapment.
Nerve-focused treatment may be discussed when there is a plausible peripheral nerve pain generator. Progressive weakness, major neurological deficit or red flags require a different pathway.
Read moreThis is general information only. Suitability is assessed individually. Treatments with limited or condition-dependent evidence may still be discussed, but only with clear explanation of uncertainty, expected benefit, risks, cost and alternatives. Red flags, progressive neurological symptoms or suspected serious pathology require a different pathway.
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Your assessment focuses on understanding the likely source of your pain and the most appropriate non-surgical options for your diagnosis, with the aim of reducing pain and improving function.
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