Osteoarthritis & Arthritis Care

Looking for an osteoarthritis doctor in Fairfax, Virginia? Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of joint pain and stiffness. At OrthoFairfax, our focus is helping people understand their joint symptoms, maintain mobility, and find a treatment plan that fits their goals—whether that means walking more comfortably, getting back to exercise, sleeping better, or keeping up with family.

We emphasize nonsurgical arthritis care, from practical day-to-day strategies and rehabilitation to image-guided injections and other interventional options when appropriate. Treatment is tailored to the joint involved, the severity and cause of symptoms, your health, and what matters most to you.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA), sometimes called degenerative joint disease or “wear-and-tear” arthritis, is a condition involving changes to the whole joint, including cartilage, underlying bone, joint lining, and surrounding tissues. It can develop gradually with age, after an injury, or in association with joint structure, repetitive loading, and other individual risk factors. Osteoarthritis is not simply an inevitable part of getting older, and symptoms can vary considerably from person to person.

Common symptoms include pain with activity or after prolonged use, stiffness after resting or first thing in the morning, swelling, tenderness, reduced range of motion, grinding or clicking sensations, and difficulty with everyday tasks. An examination and, when needed, imaging can help determine whether osteoarthritis is the main source of pain or whether another condition may be contributing.

Osteoarthritis in different joints

Arthritis can also affect the foot and ankle and other joints. Pain in an arthritic area does not always come from osteoarthritis alone; tendon problems, bursitis, inflammatory arthritis, nerve irritation, and other conditions may produce similar symptoms.

Nonsurgical osteoarthritis treatment: from conservative to interventional

There is no single treatment that works for everyone. A thoughtful plan often combines several approaches and is adjusted over time. The goal is to reduce pain, improve function, and help you stay as active as possible—not to promise a cure or reverse all joint changes.

1. Education, activity changes, and joint protection

Understanding symptom triggers can help you stay active without repeatedly overloading a painful joint. Treatment may include pacing activities, modifying repetitive movements, alternating higher- and lower-impact exercise, planning recovery time, and using supportive footwear or an assistive device when useful. Complete inactivity can worsen strength and conditioning, so the aim is usually appropriate movement rather than avoiding activity altogether.

2. Therapeutic exercise and physical therapy

Strength, flexibility, balance, and low-impact aerobic activity can improve function and help support painful joints. A physical therapy program may focus on the muscles around the knee or hip, shoulder mechanics, posture and spinal mobility, gait, or safe ways to build activity. Exercises should be adapted to your symptoms and abilities, especially during a flare.

3. Weight management when appropriate

For people with knee or hip osteoarthritis who are above a comfortable or healthy weight, even modest weight reduction may reduce joint loading and improve symptoms. This is one part of care—not a judgment about the person—and should be discussed in a supportive, individualized way.

4. Medication and topical options

Depending on the joint and your medical history, options may include topical anti-inflammatory medicines, oral anti-inflammatory medicines, or other pain-relief strategies. Topical products can be useful for some superficial joints, while oral medicines may carry gastrointestinal, kidney, blood-pressure, cardiovascular, or medication-interaction risks. Acetaminophen and other products also have limitations. A clinician can help weigh benefits, risks, and alternatives; do not start or combine medicines without considering your health conditions and current medications.

5. Braces, supports, and other aids

Some patients benefit from a knee brace, cane, thumb support, shoe modification, or other assistive device selected for the joint and the problem being treated. These tools may help with comfort or stability, but fit and appropriate use matter.

6. Corticosteroid injections

A corticosteroid injection may be considered for selected painful joints, particularly when symptoms flare or other measures have not provided enough relief. Benefit and duration vary, and injections are not appropriate for every patient or every situation. The clinician should discuss expected benefit, potential risks, timing, and how injections fit into the broader plan.

7. Ultrasound-guided joint injections

Musculoskeletal ultrasound can help visualize a joint and surrounding structures in real time and guide needle placement for certain injections. Image guidance can be especially useful when anatomy is difficult to feel by touch or when precision matters. Whether ultrasound guidance is appropriate depends on the joint, the procedure, and the individual case.

8. Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) injections

Hyaluronic acid injections are used in some cases of knee osteoarthritis. Evidence and recommendations vary, and relief is not guaranteed; insurance coverage also varies. They are not suitable for everyone, and a discussion should include the evidence, potential costs, alternatives, and your treatment goals.

9. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP is prepared from a sample of a patient’s own blood and injected into a targeted area. It is offered for selected musculoskeletal problems, including some cases of knee osteoarthritis, but research findings and professional recommendations remain mixed. PRP may not be covered by insurance, and patients should understand uncertainty about benefit, out-of-pocket cost, and potential risks before deciding.

10. Prolotherapy and other selected procedures

Prolotherapy and other injection-based approaches may be discussed for selected musculoskeletal conditions. The strength of evidence differs by diagnosis and procedure, and these options should not be presented as proven cartilage regrowth or a guaranteed way to avoid surgery. A personalized conversation should cover the evidence, alternatives, risks, and cost.

11. Interventional care for spine-related pain

Arthritic changes in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine may coexist with disc, joint, muscle, or nerve-related pain. After an appropriate evaluation, selected patients may be considered for procedures such as facet-joint-related injections, medial branch blocks, or other targeted spine injections. These procedures address specific suspected pain sources and are not treatments for every type of back or neck pain. New or progressive neurological symptoms require prompt medical assessment.

How do we choose the right treatment?

Your evaluation may include a history of symptoms and prior treatment, a physical examination, review of existing imaging, and X-rays or other imaging when clinically useful. MRI is not needed for every case of osteoarthritis. The plan should reflect which joint is involved, what activities are limited, other possible causes of pain, your medical history, and your preferences.

• Earlier or milder symptoms: education, exercise, activity adjustments, and appropriate topical or oral medication options may be the starting point.
• Persistent symptoms: a more structured rehabilitation plan, selected supports, and a discussion of injection options may be reasonable.
• Ongoing or complex pain: reassessment can help clarify the diagnosis, refine treatment, and determine whether another specialist or surgical consultation should be considered.

Nonsurgical care can help many people manage symptoms, but it cannot guarantee pain relief or stop osteoarthritis from progressing. If symptoms remain severe despite appropriate treatment, discussing all available options—including a surgical opinion when appropriate—is part of informed care.

When should joint pain be evaluated?

Arrange an evaluation if joint pain persists, keeps returning, limits daily activities, disrupts sleep, or comes with recurring swelling or loss of movement. Seek urgent medical attention for a hot, red, markedly swollen joint with fever; sudden severe pain; inability to bear weight after an injury; or new significant weakness, numbness, or bowel or bladder changes with back pain.

Osteoarthritis care in Fairfax, Virginia

OrthoFairfax provides orthopedic and sports medicine evaluation with a focus on individualized, nonsurgical options for joint pain and arthritis. We work with patients to understand their symptoms and discuss practical care—from conservative measures to selected image-guided and interventional treatments. Whether you are looking for knee arthritis treatment, hip osteoarthritis care, shoulder or elbow arthritis evaluation, or options for neck and back pain, the first step is identifying what is driving your symptoms.

Explore our nonsurgical treatment options, learn about ultrasound-guided injections, PRP therapy, and prolotherapy, or contact OrthoFairfax to request an appointment.

This page provides general educational information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for personalized medical advice. Treatment suitability, expected benefits, risks, and insurance coverage vary by patient and procedure.