Joint pain treatment options
Joint pain is common. When the pain is severe or chronic, surgery can be considered. However, this is only one of the treatment options for joint pain. Physiotherapy can lead to good results, drugs can be used to relieve the pain and simply waiting can be a good option as well.
Which joint pain treatment option is right
The decision concerning having surgery can be influenced by the following questions: How severe is the injury? How much do the pain and the handicap bother me? What can I do to be able to play sports again? What risks does the surgery involve? How much time will it take for me to recover after the surgery? What is the chance that my problems will return? Can the pain be relieved or completely taken away by medication? What is the chance on recovering spontaneously? What is the chance that my complaints will disappear as a result of physiotherapy? What is to be expected if I do nothing and just wait?
Decision aids
At the bottom of this page, you can find a list of decision aids, which can support you in choosing the right joint pain treatment. The decision aids cover among others the following subjects:
- Rotator cuff tear (shoulder)
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist, hand)
- ACL injury (anterior cruciate ligament tear)
- Meniscus tear (knee)
- Achilles tendon rupture (ankle)
- Heel injury (Plantar fasciitis)
- Bunion (hallux valgus, deviation of the great toe)
- Hammer toes
- Claw toes
- Mallet toes
- Shoulder instability
- Trigger finger
Your choice
The decision aids listed below can help you answer these questions. They can also help you weigh up the pros and cons of surgery in your specific situation. The purpose of the decision aids is to support the conversation with your doctor, not to replace it. Please discuss the decision aids together with you doctor, so that you can talk about your situation and personal preferences. Together you can make the right decision.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (OHRI): surgery or no surgery EN
Injuries (OHRI): multiple decision aids about surgery or no surgery EN
Rotator cuff tear: treatment options NL
Shoulder instability: treatment options NL