Sandhe dukhi — what is causing your joint pain?
Joint pain (sandhe dukhi / सांधेदुखी / जोड़ों का दर्द / gude dukhne) can affect any joint. The cause determines the treatment entirely:
- Osteoarthritis (ghasa ghasi / घसाघसी) — cartilage worn with age; most common in knees, hips and fingers
- Rheumatoid arthritis — immune system attacking joints; morning stiffness, multiple joints
- Gout (vaat / वात) — uric acid crystals in the joint; sudden severe pain often in big toe or ankle
- Post-injury arthritis — a joint injured years ago now developing arthritis
- Avascular necrosis (AVN) — bone dies due to lost blood supply; common in the hip
- Ligament or cartilage tears — from sports or accidents
When to see an orthopaedic surgeon
Come in when:
- Pain has lasted more than 3–4 weeks and is not improving
- The joint is swollen, warm or red
- Pain is disturbing your sleep
- You are limping or avoiding activities because of the joint
- Pain medication is giving less and less relief
Treatment — what you can expect
Most joint pain is treated without surgery. A clear diagnosis comes first — standing X-ray, blood tests if inflammatory arthritis is suspected, MRI if a soft-tissue cause is likely. Treatment follows a stepwise approach: exercises and physiotherapy, appropriate medication, targeted injections, and surgery only when conservative treatment has genuinely failed.