# Bring these arthritis pain relief questions to your visit *Straight Answers — Arthritis Treatment Scottsdale* > Get plain answers about arthritis pain relief, scans, warning signs, and arthritis treatment Scottsdale choices. Read the answer that matches your concern today; these answers can help you prepare, but they can't diagnose the joint. Get prompt care for sudden heat, heavy swelling, fever, a new injury, or trouble standing. Ask one question at a time, and expect the reply to say what is known, suspected, or still unknown. ## Sources 1. The Lancet Seminar on osteoarthritis states that diagnosis is clinically based despite widespread OVERUSE of imaging, that management should focus on core treatments - self-management and education, exercise, and weight loss where relevant - and that surgery should be reserved for people who have not responded appropriately to less invasive methods. Hunter DJ, et al. — [Osteoarthritis.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31034380/). *Lancet*, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30417-9. 2. In the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study, 710 people over 50 with NO radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis underwent knee MRI: 89% had 'any abnormality'. Osteophytes appeared in 74%, cartilage damage in 69% and bone marrow lesions in 52%. Prevalence of at least one abnormality was 90-97% in painful knees and 86-88% in painLESS knees. Guermazi A, et al. — [Prevalence of abnormalities in knees detected by MRI in adults without knee osteoarthritis: population based observational study (Framingham Osteoarthritis Study).](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22932918/). *BMJ*, 2012. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e5339. 3. A systematic review found the proportion of people with knee pain who have radiographic osteoarthritis ranges from 15% to 76%, and the proportion of people with radiographic knee OA who have pain ranges from 15% to 81%. The authors conclude X-ray results should not be used in isolation when assessing an individual patient with knee pain. Bedson J, et al. — [The discordance between clinical and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: a systematic search and summary of the literature.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18764949/). *BMC Musculoskelet Disord*, 2008. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-9-116. 4. The 2019 ACR/Arthritis Foundation guideline makes STRONG recommendations for exercise, weight loss in people with overweight or obesity, self-efficacy and self-management programmes, tai chi, cane use, hand orthoses for first-CMC joint OA, tibiofemoral bracing, topical NSAIDs for the knee, oral NSAIDs and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections for the knee; acupuncture, thermal modalities, radiofrequency ablation, acetaminophen, duloxetine and tramadol are only conditional. Kolasinski SL, et al. — [2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31908163/). *Arthritis Rheumatol*, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/art.41142. 5. OARSI designates arthritis education plus structured land-based exercise (with dietary weight management for the knee) as CORE treatments for knee, hip and polyarticular OA. Topical NSAIDs are Level 1A for knee OA. Intra-articular corticosteroids, intra-articular hyaluronic acid and aquatic exercise are Level 1B/2 for the KNEE only and are NOT recommended for hip or polyarticular OA. Acetaminophen is conditionally not recommended, and no oral NSAID is recommended for people with cardiovascular comorbidity or frailty. Bannuru RR, et al. — [OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31278997/). *Osteoarthritis Cartilage*, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2019.06.011. 6. In a two-year double-blind randomized trial of 140 patients with symptomatic knee OA and ultrasonic synovitis, intra-articular triamcinolone 40 mg every 12 weeks produced significantly greater cartilage volume loss than saline (index compartment cartilage thickness change -0.21 mm vs -0.10 mm; between-group difference -0.11 mm, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.03) with NO significant difference in pain. McAlindon TE, et al. — [Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28510679/). *JAMA*, 2017. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.5283. 7. The RESTORE randomized clinical trial (n=288) compared three weekly intra-articular injections of leukocyte-poor PRP with saline placebo in symptomatic mild-to-moderate medial knee OA. At 12 months the mean change in knee pain was -2.1 versus -1.8 points (difference -0.4, 95% CI -0.9 to 0.2, P=.17) and the mean change in medial tibial cartilage volume was -1.4% versus -1.2% (P=.81). Twenty-nine of 31 prespecified secondary outcomes showed no significant between-group difference. Bennell KL, et al. — [Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34812863/). *JAMA*, 2021. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.19415. 8. FDA states verbatim that stem cell products, stromal vascular fraction (adipose-derived), umbilical cord blood, Wharton's jelly, amniotic fluid and exosome products have NOT been approved 'for the treatment of any orthopedic condition, such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, disc disease, tennis elbow, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, neck pain, or shoulder pain.' The only FDA-approved stem cell products in the United States are blood-forming (hematopoietic progenitor) cells derived from umbilical cord blood, approved only for disorders of blood production, and there are currently NO FDA-approved exosome products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration — [Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes](https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/consumer-alert-regenerative-medicine-products-including-stem-cells-and-exosomes). *FDA (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research)*, 2020. 9. The 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria define 'definite rheumatoid arthritis' by confirmed synovitis in at least one joint, absence of a better alternative diagnosis, and a total score of 6 or more out of 10 across four domains: number and site of involved joints (0-5), serology (0-3), acute-phase response (0-1) and symptom duration (0-1). This is the formal boundary between inflammatory arthritis and degenerative joint disease. Aletaha D, et al. — [2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20872595/). *Arthritis Rheum*, 2010. DOI: 10.1002/art.27584. ## What helps arthritis soreness at home? Keep moving gently, but do less of the task that brought on the ache. Try a shorter walk, easier bends, or more breaks. Change one thing at a time so you can tell what helps. If soreness keeps rising or lasts through the next day, do less again. ## What do arthritis symptoms usually feel like? Common arthritis symptoms include stiffness after rest, soreness during use, less motion, and mild swelling. Stairs can bother the knees, while hips may ache in the groin or thigh. Hands may hurt during gripping. Heat, redness, and quick swelling aren't usual slow changes and need prompt care. ## What does an arthritis X-ray tell me? An X-ray shows bone changes, bone position, and the space between bones. It may support an arthritis diagnosis and show how much the joint has worn. It can't measure soreness, so your doctor must compare the X-ray with the exam and your usual tasks. ## Can arthritis soreness improve if the X-ray does not? Yes. Stronger muscles, gentle movement, less strain, and suitable medicine may help even when the X-ray stays the same. The joint does not need to look different before walking or sleep can improve. Track the task that matters to you so you can notice a useful change. ## What is the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis? Osteoarthritis often builds slowly and hurts more during use. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the body's defense system attacks the joint lining. It may cause long morning stiffness and matching swelling in small joints. A rheumatologist is a doctor who treats this kind of disease. An exam and blood tests help tell them apart. ## What if the soreness does not settle? If home care hasn't helped, arrange an exam and bring notes about the ache. QC Kinetix offers consultations for soreness and provides regenerative treatments without surgery, using material prepared from your blood or tissue. The clinic calls these biologic therapies, meaning care made from blood or tissue. PRP means platelet-rich plasma: your blood is drawn and spun so its platelets become concentrated, then the prepared portion goes into the joint. Concentrated PRP is another version made from your blood. Medical providers are licensed care staff; ask whether your visit is with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Studies do not give one sure answer. In the largest study where people did not know which care they received, PRP gave no more knee relief than salt water after twelve months. Other studies found some relief, but they can't promise that your knee will improve. Ask what may improve for your joint, what could go wrong, what it costs, and what you could try instead. ## Bring your joint questions to the clinic team Bring notes about the soreness, your medicine list, scan reports, and the task you want back. Ask why the suggested care matches your joint and when another doctor is needed. Call (602) 837-PAIN to reach the Phoenix-area clinic team. Talk to the clinic team: --- Clear help for a sore joint. Find practical steps for aching joints, changes that call for care, and arthritis treatment Scottsdale choices. Plain Scottsdale help for joint soreness, home care, warning signs, and medical visits. This site is operated by the owners of the QC Kinetix Phoenix-area clinics, including the Scottsdale, Chandler, Peoria and Banner Estrella locations. © 2026 Scottsdale Joint Levels. General education only; it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for care from a qualified clinician.