Arthritis Treatment in Margao, Goa

Joint pain that keeps returning, stiffness when you wake up, or difficulty climbing stairs may be signs of arthritis affecting your everyday life. While some forms of arthritis can be managed with medication, exercise and physiotherapy, others may progressively damage the joint and eventually require surgical treatment. At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic in Margao, Dr. Amol Narkhede, a senior orthopaedic surgeon with over 16 years of experience, evaluates joint pain and arthritis-related problems to help patients understand their condition and choose a treatment approach suited to their symptoms, mobility and long-term needs.

Arthritis can develop gradually or cause episodes of pain, swelling and stiffness that interfere with daily activities. Early assessment can help identify the underlying problem and determine whether conservative treatment, further investigation or a surgical opinion is needed.

Consider an orthopaedic consultation if you experience:

• Knee, hip, shoulder or other joint pain that keeps returning.
• Stiffness when getting out of bed or after sitting for a long time.
• Swelling around a joint, particularly when it repeatedly occurs.
• Pain when walking, climbing stairs, standing or getting up from a chair.
• Difficulty bending your knee, lifting your arm or moving a joint normally.
• Joint pain that disturbs your sleep or limits everyday activities.
• A gradual reduction in walking distance or physical activity.
• Pain that continues despite medication or physiotherapy.
• Increasing difficulty managing household tasks, work or personal activities.

These symptoms do not automatically mean that you have arthritis. Tendon problems, injuries, infections and other conditions can cause similar complaints.

A joint that becomes suddenly hot, red and markedly swollen, especially with fever or feeling unwell, requires urgent medical assessment. This can indicate an infection or another condition that needs prompt treatment.

At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, the first step is to understand what is causing your symptoms rather than assuming that every painful joint is affected by arthritis.

Arthritis describes a group of conditions that affect the joints. The causes, symptoms and treatment options differ depending on the type of arthritis and the joint involved.

Osteoarthritis: Wear and damage within a joint

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It develops when changes occur in the cartilage, bone and other tissues that make up a joint.

It commonly affects the knees and hips, although it can also involve the hands, spine and other joints.

Symptoms may include pain during movement, stiffness after periods of inactivity, reduced flexibility and difficulty carrying out activities that were previously comfortable.

For example, knee osteoarthritis may cause pain when climbing stairs or standing up from a chair. Hip osteoarthritis can cause discomfort around the groin or thigh and make walking or putting on footwear difficult.

Osteoarthritis is influenced by several factors, including age, previous joint injuries, joint structure and family history. Excess body weight can also increase the load on weight-bearing joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis develops when inflammation affects the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints.

Symptoms can include joint swelling, warmth, tenderness and prolonged morning stiffness. Multiple joints may be affected, sometimes on both sides of the body.

Unlike osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis may require specialist medical treatment to control the underlying disease and reduce the risk of joint damage.

An orthopaedic assessment can help evaluate joint symptoms and identify when further investigation or referral to a rheumatologist is needed.

Post-traumatic arthritis

Some people develop arthritis after a fracture, ligament injury or other significant joint injury. Damage to the joint surfaces or changes in joint alignment can contribute to symptoms that appear months or years later.

Patients may notice persistent pain, swelling, stiffness or reduced movement in a previously injured joint.

Treatment depends on the extent of the damage and how much it affects everyday function.

Other forms of arthritis

Other conditions, including gout and certain inflammatory or infectious joint disorders, can also cause joint pain and swelling.

Gout is associated with uric acid crystal deposits in joints and may produce sudden, severe episodes of pain and swelling. Septic arthritis, an infection within a joint, requires urgent medical treatment.

Identifying the type of arthritis matters because treatments suitable for one condition may not be appropriate for another.

What does arthritis feel like?

Patients commonly describe arthritis symptoms as:

• Pain when walking or putting weight on a joint.
• Stiffness first thing in the morning.
• Difficulty moving after sitting for a prolonged period.
• Swelling around the affected joint.
• Reduced flexibility or difficulty bending.
• A grinding or creaking sensation during movement.
• Pain that becomes more noticeable after activity.
• Increasing difficulty with stairs, dressing or everyday tasks.

The pattern of symptoms, physical examination and relevant investigations help establish the likely cause.

At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, the assessment begins with understanding how your symptoms developed and how they affect your daily life.

Dr. Amol Narkhede takes time to listen to your concerns before asking questions specific to the affected joint. He may ask when the pain started, whether it is worse during movement or at rest, how long morning stiffness lasts and whether you have experienced previous injuries or treatments.

He also considers the activities that have become difficult, such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting your arm or standing for extended periods.

Physical examination

The examination depends on which joint is affected and the suspected cause of your symptoms.

Dr. Narkhede may assess the joint’s range of movement, tenderness, swelling, stability and surrounding muscle function. He may ask you to perform particular movements or examine the joint while you are lying on the examination bed.

These findings help distinguish possible joint degeneration from other causes of pain, including ligament injuries, tendon problems and conditions affecting the surrounding structures.

X-rays and other investigations

Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic has digital radiography X-ray facilities on the same floor as the consultation rooms.

When an X-ray is indicated, you can undergo imaging at the clinic rather than travelling to a separate imaging centre. Dr. Narkhede can then review the images alongside your symptoms and examination findings and explain the relevant features.

For osteoarthritis, X-rays may show narrowing of the joint space, bone spurs or other changes associated with joint degeneration. However, the severity of changes on an X-ray does not always correspond directly to the amount of pain a person experiences.

Not every patient with suspected osteoarthritis needs imaging. Additional investigations may be recommended when the symptoms are unusual, an injury is suspected or another diagnosis needs to be considered.

Blood tests or other investigations may be needed when inflammatory arthritis, gout or infection is suspected. The appropriate assessment depends on the clinical findings.

Understanding whether surgery is necessary

If arthritis has significantly affected a joint, Dr. Narkhede considers the degree of functional limitation, the available treatment options and whether non-surgical management has provided sufficient relief.

Surgery is discussed when the expected benefits justify the risks and recovery involved. A diagnosis of arthritis alone does not mean that joint replacement is required.

Arthritis treatment depends on the type of condition, the joint affected, symptom severity and the patient’s general health. The aim is to reduce pain, maintain movement and help the patient remain as independent as possible.

Medication and symptom management

Medication may help relieve pain and, in some cases, inflammation. The choice depends on the type of arthritis, the patient’s medical history and any other medicines they take.

Anti-inflammatory medicines are not suitable for everyone, particularly people with certain stomach, kidney or cardiovascular problems. Medication should therefore be selected with appropriate medical guidance.

For osteoarthritis, pain relief can help patients remain active and participate in rehabilitation. Medicines do not, however, restore cartilage that has been extensively damaged.

Inflammatory arthritis may require disease-specific treatment under the care of a rheumatologist or other appropriate specialist.

Physiotherapy and therapeutic exercise

Exercise is an important part of managing osteoarthritis. Appropriate strengthening and movement exercises can improve muscle function, mobility and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

Physiotherapy may also help patients learn how to move more comfortably, build strength around an affected joint and gradually increase their activity.

At Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic, Dr. Rucha Narkhede practises physiotherapy independently at the same clinic. Patients can enquire about physiotherapy when it forms part of their treatment plan.

The exercises should be adapted to the patient’s symptoms and abilities. Some initial discomfort may occur when starting an exercise programme, but severe or worsening pain should be discussed with the treating professional.

Activity modification and practical support

Adjusting how you perform certain activities may help reduce unnecessary stress on painful joints.

Depending on the affected joint, this may involve modifying high-impact exercise, breaking up prolonged periods of standing, using appropriate walking support or gradually increasing activity as strength improves.

For people with osteoarthritis who are overweight, weight management can reduce the load on weight-bearing joints and may improve pain and physical function.

These measures are intended to support movement and daily function rather than require patients to stop being active altogether.

Joint injections

In selected cases, a doctor may consider an injection to help manage symptoms. The type of injection and its expected benefit depend on the condition being treated.

For example, a corticosteroid injection may provide short-term relief for certain patients with osteoarthritis. It does not reverse the underlying joint damage, and its suitability must be assessed individually.

Not every patient needs an injection, and it should not be presented as a guaranteed solution.

Knee replacement surgery

When knee osteoarthritis causes substantial pain and loss of function despite appropriate non-surgical treatment, knee replacement may be considered.

The procedure involves replacing damaged joint surfaces with artificial components designed to restore joint function and reduce pain.

The decision depends on the severity of symptoms, the condition of the joint, the patient’s general health and the effect of arthritis on quality of life.

Learn more about Knee Replacement Surgery at Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic.

Hip replacement surgery

Advanced hip osteoarthritis can cause persistent groin pain, stiffness, difficulty walking and problems with everyday activities.

When non-surgical treatments no longer provide sufficient relief, hip replacement may be considered. The operation replaces damaged joint surfaces with artificial components.

Patients should understand the expected benefits, surgical risks and rehabilitation requirements before making a decision.

Explore Hip Replacement Surgery for further information.

Shoulder arthritis and other affected joints

Arthritis can also affect the shoulder and other joints, sometimes causing persistent pain, restricted movement and difficulty performing routine tasks.

Treatment depends on the type of arthritis and the degree of joint damage. Some patients improve with medication, activity modification and physiotherapy, while others may need further investigation or surgical assessment.

Where advanced shoulder arthritis substantially affects quality of life, shoulder replacement may be considered in selected cases.

Mild joint discomfort that improves steadily may not require immediate specialist treatment. However, persistent pain, recurrent swelling or increasing difficulty moving a joint deserves assessment.

Arrange a consultation if:

• Joint pain continues to affect your everyday activities.
• Stiffness is becoming more pronounced.
• You are increasingly relying on medication to manage symptoms.
• Walking, climbing stairs or using your arm has become difficult.
• Physiotherapy or other treatments have not provided sufficient relief.
• You have a previous joint injury and new symptoms are developing.

Seek urgent medical assessment if a joint suddenly becomes hot, red and swollen, particularly if you also have a fever. A possible joint infection must not be treated as routine arthritis.

The purpose of an assessment is to identify the cause and establish a suitable treatment plan, not to assume that every patient needs an operation.

Your care journey begins by contacting Healthy Bones and Joints Clinic by phone or WhatsApp to enquire about an appointment with Dr. Amol Narkhede.

During the consultation, he listens to your concerns, asks questions about your symptoms and examines the affected joint. If an X-ray is indicated, digital radiography facilities are available on the same floor as the consultation rooms.

After reviewing the available findings, he explains the likely diagnosis and discusses the next steps. Depending on the condition, these may include medication, activity modification, physiotherapy, further investigation or consideration of surgery.

If physiotherapy is recommended, patients can enquire about treatment with Dr. Rucha Narkhede, who practises independently at the same clinic.

For patients considering joint replacement, the discussion should include the expected benefits, risks, surgical arrangements and rehabilitation requirements. The operation itself takes place at an appropriate hospital or surgical facility, and the hospital arrangements should be confirmed directly with the clinic.

Both practitioners generally practise during the clinic’s operating hours, subject to individual availability. Dr. Amol’s schedule may vary when he is undertaking surgery, so contact the clinic before visiting.