Joint pain surgery & treatment

Joint pain is a very common orthopedic complaint. Injured and arthritic joints wear down over time and sometimes require surgical replacement.

Our team of orthopedic and sports health specialists are experienced in the latest methods for treating joint problems and offer a care approach that’s cost-effective and efficient.

Meet our orthopedic team and our sports health team.

Expert joint care & joint replacement at Aurora

With advanced facilities and time-tested methods of care, our joint services stand a cut above the rest. At Aurora, we offer:

• Innovative facilities and technology: Our doctors were some of the first in Wisconsin to perform stemless shoulder replacement. We were also among the first in Wisconsin to perform anterior hip replacement and bilateral knee replacement. Our joint specialists perform robot-assisted surgeries – offering you the absolute latest in medical technology, too. Learn more about the Aurora difference.
• Focus on results-driven care: Our medical team is committed to real results and evidence-based treatment approaches. We assess the latest techniques and medical innovations, and only offer those that meet our exacting standards. This is especially important for joint care, where new approaches are introduced all the time - we consider them all and only offer you the best.
• Convenient care nearby: We are one of the largest local health systems in Wisconsin. Our 14 hospitals offer convenient access to care in eastern Wisconsin communities large and small. This means you can expect superior joint care close to home. Find a location near you.
• Coordinated services: We provide everything you need in a single, integrated health system. Orthopedic specialists work closely with other departments like sports health, primary care, integrative medicine, rheumatology and physical therapy to meet your unique needs.
• The largest regional health care provider in Wisconsin: Our expert team includes over 70 orthopedic surgeons, many of whom have received additional years of specialized training in the field. This team sees a large number of orthopedic and joint replacement patients, giving Aurora deep experience in treating all types of orthopedic problems and allowing our doctors to make more informed decisions about your care.

Exercise, rest & pain relief: stopping joint problems

Many joint problems do not require surgery. Often, they can be treated with a combination of exercise, rest and anti-inflammatory medications.

Your Aurora orthopedic specialist can help you find effective, noninvasive treatments for your joint pain. They’ll also teach you how to care for simple injuries.

When an injury doesn’t respond to icing, elevation and rest, it’s important to see an orthopedic specialist – especially since unhealed injuries can develop infections or become chronic problems.

Injections and other nonsurgical treatment options

If basic at-home care is not fully effective, the next step in healing joint problems may be nonsurgical solutions. Sometimes, when pain is effectively managed, the injury or arthritic episode will pass without the need for surgery.

Joint lubricants and corticosteroid injections can be an effective treatment for joint problems. This type of treatment is especially effective for those who can’t take anti-inflammatory medication.

Learn more about injections for joint pain.

Joint lubricants

Injecting joint lubricants into a joint may relieve your pain and ease inflammation. Joint lubricant injections are given weekly for three or five weeks, depending on the type of lubricant.

Corticosteroid injections

Along with a numbing medication, time-release cortisone is also injected into joints to reduce inflammation. Corticosteroid injections often provide long-term joint pain relief.

Finding relief through integrative medicine

Your Aurora doctor may also suggest integrative medical treatments – also known as holistic treatments – to improve your condition. Holistic treatments may be helpful in treating pain caused by joint problems.

Some of our integrative medicine options include:

• Chiropractic: Chiropractors apply pressure to the joints and soft tissue in order to alleviate pain. Learn more about our chiropractic care.
• Acupuncture: This precise, delicate treatment with small needles may calm the mind, lessen pain and speed up the healing process. Learn more about acupuncture at Aurora.
• Massage: Our licensed massage therapists apply pressure in specific ways that can limit pain and lead to more complete usage of the joint. Learn more about massage therapy at Aurora.

Joint replacement surgery

When a joint is significantly damaged, your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery. Our orthopedic surgeons perform multiple joint replacements daily, including hip replacements, knee replacements, ankle replacements and shoulder replacements. You can rest assured your surgeon is highly experienced with your type of joint procedure.

What to expect from your joint replacement surgery

While this type of surgery was once considered high-risk, today it often requires little recovery time. Together with preemptive pain relief and slow-release anesthetics, mechanical replacement joints have made the procedure safer, more comfortable, and more effective.

Most people stay in the hospital for just one night after surgery. Many return home in less than 24 hours. Your joint replacement and recovery will typically follow these steps:

• You’ll have your surgery in the morning.
• You’ll be back on your feet by early afternoon.
• You’ll start driving about two weeks later.
• You’ll return to work or regular activity after six weeks.

Most people who’ve had a successful joint replacement surgery can return to a fully active lifestyle relatively quickly.

Physical therapy

At Aurora, recovery begins with physical therapy, which often starts prior to your surgery at a prehab appointment. Your orthopedic surgeon or primary care doctor will refer you to a therapist. They may also recommend that you work with other members of our integrative medicine team to further speed your recovery.

Learn more about orthopedic physical therapy at Aurora.

Joint replacement at Aurora

Find out what to expect during your joint replacement surgery.

Hip replacement surgery

Treatments for elbow, wrist & hand

Knee replacement surgery

Shoulder replacement surgery

Total ankle replacement surgery

Get a free injury evaluation

We get to the source of the pain and offer personalized care recommendations.

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