Over one-third of Americans already show signs of arthritis and that number will only grow as the population ages. Osteoarthritis is by far the most common with it prevalent in 30% of adults, over 45% have it in their knees, 27% in the hands, and 27% in the hips.
Another major contributor for joint pain is Gout affecting over 8 million people Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women, especially to those aged over 65.
These are huge numbers and it’s not too far off. I see it often with patients at my Wheat Ridge clinic almost every day. There’s a reason and we’re here to find and fix it naturally.
Common Causes of Joint Pain
Understanding what’s causing your joint pain is the first and most important step. These are the most common joint conditions I evaluate and treat at the Disc Chiropractic
Osteoarthritis (Joint Degeneration)
Osteoarthritis happens when the smooth cartilage that lines your joints starts to break down. It’s most common in load-bearing joints like the knees, hips, and spine, as the cartilage in these areas starts to wear out, the bones (like the femur, tibia, and vertebrae) start rubbing against each other. This leads to inflammation, stiffness, and chronic joint pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is an autoimmune condition where your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the synovial lining of your joints. RA usually starts in smaller joints like the fingers, wrists, and elbows, but it can progress to the shoulders, knees, and spine.
Inflammation causes joint swelling and deformity, and over time, the surrounding muscles and tendons become destabilized.
Gout
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals building up in a joint most often in the big toe, but also in the ankle, knee, wrist, or elbow. It causes sudden, sharp pain and intense swelling.
Once the acute flare is over, the joint often needs help recovering normal function. If that joint isn’t moving well or is taking more load than it should, gout can keep coming back.
Pseudogout
Similar to gout but driven by calcium crystals, pseudogout most often affects the knees, but can also involve the wrists, shoulders, or hips. It leads to swelling and stiffness that mimics gout.
Bursitis
A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between bones, tendons, and muscles. When that sac gets inflamed usually from repetitive pressure you get bursitis. Common areas are the shoulder (subacromial), hip (trochanteric), elbow (olecranon), and knee (prepatellar or pes anserine). The pain tends to be sharp and localized, especially when moving or lying on the affected side.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is irritation of a tendon where muscle meets bone. I see this all the time in the shoulders (rotator cuff), elbows (tennis/golfer’s elbow), knees (patellar tendon), and ankles (Achilles tendon).
It’s usually caused by repetitive stress or improper joint loading. When the joint isn’t tracking well, the tendon takes the hit. Over time, that inflammation can turn into degeneration if we don’t correct the root cause.
Joint Misalignment
When joints aren’t moving the way they’re supposed to, whether in the spine, hips, knees, shoulders, or ankles they start to wear unevenly. That’s joint misalignment. It often shows up after an injury, years of bad posture, or simply moving in ways your body wasn’t built for.
These misalignments stress cartilage, ligaments, and even surrounding muscles like the glutes, paraspinals, or rotator cuff. That leads to tightness, pain, and eventually degeneration.
Injury & Post-Traumatic Joint Pain
Past injuries—even ones you thought healed can create long-term joint issues. Whether it’s a sprained ankle, a dislocated shoulder, or a fall on the hip, trauma disrupts joint mechanics.
Scar tissue, instability, or subtle misalignments may remain long after the swelling goes down. I often find that post-injury joints never fully recover their motion or stability unless they’re properly rehabilitated.
How We Diagnose Joint Pain at The Disc Chiropractic
Joint pain isn’t something I guess at, my reputation is built on getting it right the first time. At The Disc Chiropractic, we follow a diagnostic process that’s trusted by active adults, professionals, and patients who’ve been let down by surface-level care. Here’s what that includes:
- We start with a detailed health history looking at your lifestyle, movement habits, old injuries, and medical background.
- I perform trusted orthopedic and neurological joint exams to evaluate range of motion, joint tracking, ligament integrity, and nerve sensitivity.
- We assess posture and movement mechanics from head to toe. Joint pain often shows up where you’re compensating for poor alignment elsewhere.
- If I suspect that your joint pain is linked to a pinched nerve in the neck or lower back—we’ll confirm that through functional testing and digital motion X-rays.
- In more complex cases involving arthritis, joint degeneration, or soft tissue damage, I’ll refer to MRI to confirm the diagnosis.
When patients come to us after seeing multiple providers with no answers, our diagnostic process is often what sets us apart. We don’t treat what we think is wrong—we treat what we know is.
Personalized Treatments for Joint Pain Relief
Every treatment I recommend is backed by results, research, and real-world outcomes. Here’s what we use most often for joint pain.
Chiropractic Adjustments
It starts with alignment. If the spine, shoulder, hip, knee, or ankle is even slightly out of position, it changes how the joint bears weight and handles stress.
I use precise, directional adjustments based on motion analysis, palpation, and X-ray findings. With the Gonstead Method of Chiropractic, there’s no guesswork, no twisting, and no random “pops.” Every adjustment is purposeful, necessary, and corrective. This is the technique I trust and have built my career on—for one reason: it works.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
When joint pain stems from conditions like facet joint irritation, disc narrowing, or nerve pressure, Spinal decompression is one of the most trusted therapies I offer. Using the Triton DTS, we gently reduce spinal pressure, restore joint spacing, and relieve nerve irritation that often radiates into the hips, knees, or shoulders.
I recommend this frequently for patients with degenerative joint disease, disc-related joint pain, or nerve-driven dysfunction.
Shockwave Therapy
For chronic joint issues—like tendinitis, bursitis, or post-injury scarring—shockwave therapy is one of the most effective tools I use. It delivers high-frequency acoustic pulses that:
- Break up calcified trigger points & scar tissue
- Increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage
- Stimulate tissue healing and collagen production
If I recommend it, it’s because I know it can accelerate healing in joints that haven’t responded to anything else. Most patients feel meaningful relief within 4–8 sessions.
Soft Tissue Therapy
When joints are restricted, it’s rarely just the bone, it’s also the soft tissue around that’s causing the most trouble. I use the Rapid Release Pro 3+ to deliver targeted vibration therapy into the most restricted muscle and fascial areas. It’s especially effective in hip tightness, and postural overload.
Therapeutic Exercise & Posture Correction
After treatment, we rebuild the stabilizing muscles, coordination, and mobility needed to support lasting improvement. Depending on the joint involved, we may target:
- Hip and core stability for knees and low back
- Rotator cuff activation for shoulder support
- Proprioceptive training for ankle or joint instability
- Flexibility and gait correction to reduce mechanical overload
FAQs About Joint Pain
What causes joint pain?
Joint pain can result from arthritis, inflammation, misalignment, past injuries, or poor movement mechanics. The cause varies by joint and requires a proper evaluation to identify.
Can chiropractic care help with arthritis-related joint pain?
Yes. While we don’t treat arthritis itself, we address the joint misalignment, muscle compensation, and movement dysfunction that make arthritis more painful and progressive.
Do you treat knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows?
Yes. We treat both spinal and extremity joints using precise Gonstead adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and rehab to restore joint mechanics.
How do I know if my joint pain is coming from my spine?
Spinal nerve irritation can refer pain into the hips, shoulders, arms, or legs. We use orthopedic testing and motion X-rays to confirm if the spine is involved.
Will I need X-rays before treatment?
In most cases, yes. Digital motion X-rays allow us to evaluate joint movement and alignment in real time, which is critical to building a safe and effective care plan.
How many sessions will I need?
That depends on the severity and cause of your joint pain. Most patients see improvement within 3–5 visits, but long-standing issues may require corrective care over several weeks.
What if I’ve already had physical therapy or injections?
We see many patients who haven’t responded to other treatments. Our approach is different—we focus on biomechanics, alignment, and root-cause correction.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
Our $97 New Patient Special is where you start. It’s trusted by patients across Wheat Ridge because it delivers answers backed by testing and real clinical insight. You’ll leave with clarity, not guesswork, and a care plan built to eliminate your joint pain for good, naturally.
If you’re ready to stop managing joint pain and start solving it, Book an Appointment Now or Call: 720-573-4910