🦴 NMC HEALTH BLOG — WEEK 2 | MAY 2025
5 Signs Your Joint Pain Needs a Doctor — And Why Most People Wait Too Long
Dr. Devangi Thapar
Director, New Medical Centre | Moti Nagar, West Delhi
Published: 8 May, 2025 · 6 min read
In over 40 years of serving West Delhi families at New Medical Centre, one pattern I observe repeatedly — people wait. They wait until a simple knee ache becomes a chronic condition. They wait until a minor back sprain becomes a disc problem. They wait until walking becomes painful before they see a doctor.
Bone and joint pain is something most of us brush aside as "old age," "tiredness," or "it will go on its own." But orthopaedic problems, when caught early, respond beautifully to treatment — whether through medication, physiotherapy, or a small procedure. When ignored, they compound into something far more difficult to manage.
As Director of New Medical Centre and someone who has witnessed thousands of orthopaedic cases over decades, I want to share 5 signs that should never be ignored.
Pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. Ignoring it is not bravery — it is a risk no one should take with their bones and joints.
— Dr. Devangi Thapar, Director, New Medical Centre, Moti NagarEveryone gets aches and pains. A muscle pull after exercise or a mild strain after lifting something heavy is common. But if your joint or bone pain has persisted for more than two weeks without improvement — even with rest — it is a sign that something more serious may be happening. Conditions like early arthritis, tendinitis, stress fractures, or ligament damage do not heal on their own. They need proper diagnosis. At NMC, we start with a focused clinical examination and targeted X-rays or ultrasound to identify the root cause quickly.
If a joint — whether your knee, ankle, wrist, or shoulder — appears visibly swollen, feels warm to touch, or looks red, this is not normal. These are signs of active inflammation, which could indicate septic arthritis (a joint infection), gout, rheumatoid arthritis flare, or a torn ligament. Inflammation left untreated can permanently damage the cartilage inside a joint. Early anti-inflammatory treatment and accurate diagnosis can prevent this from becoming irreversible. Do not apply only home remedies and wait — come for an evaluation.
This is one of the most common complaints I hear from patients in West Delhi — and one of the most ignored. "Doctor, seedhiyan chadna mushkil ho gaya hai" (Climbing stairs has become difficult). If you find that going up stairs, getting up from a chair, or squatting on the floor has become painful or difficult, your knee cartilage or hip joint may be under significant stress. This is typically an early to moderate sign of osteoarthritis. Caught early, it responds very well to medication, targeted physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes — without surgery. Ignored for years, it may eventually require joint replacement.
A joint that makes an audible pop or click — especially when accompanied by pain — is telling you something. While occasional clicking in healthy joints is harmless, consistent clicking with discomfort, or a joint that "locks" and won't move freely, points to a problem inside the joint: a torn meniscus, a loose cartilage fragment, or ligament damage. The knee and the jaw joint are most commonly affected. This is especially common in young people who play sports. If your joint clicks every time you move it, or if it occasionally "gets stuck," please do not delay — an MRI will give us a clear picture and we can treat it early.
Back pain is extremely common. But back pain that shoots down into the leg — or neck pain that radiates into the arm — is a different and more serious matter. This is called radiculopathy and is caused by a nerve being compressed, usually by a disc bulge, a bone spur, or a narrowed spinal canal. Symptoms include tingling, numbness, electric-shock-like pain, or weakness in the limb. Many patients at NMC come in thinking it is "just a backache" and are surprised to learn it is a compressed nerve. Early management — including physiotherapy, nerve medications, or targeted injections — can prevent this from becoming a surgical problem.
Quick Tip from Dr. Devangi Thapar: Never self-medicate with painkillers for more than 3–4 days. Painkillers mask the problem — they do not solve it. And long-term use of common NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen or Diclofenac) can affect your kidneys and stomach. A proper diagnosis is always safer and smarter.
At NMC, we see orthopaedic problems across all age groups. But certain people carry higher risk:
The biggest mistake I see is patients spending months on Google, trying home remedies, and coming to us only when they cannot walk. Early treatment costs far less — in time, money, and quality of life.
— Dr. Devangi Thapar, Director, New Medical CentreAt New Medical Centre, Moti Nagar, our orthopaedic assessment is comprehensive but efficient. You will not wait for weeks to understand what is wrong with you. Our approach:
Most patients leave their first consultation at NMC with a clear diagnosis and a structured plan. No vague advice. No unnecessary tests. Just honest, experienced orthopaedic guidance.
Many of my patients come to me afraid of surgery. "Doctor, operation toh nahi hoga na?" (Doctor, I won't need surgery, right?) — this is often the first question. And I am glad to tell you: the majority of orthopaedic problems do not need surgery. Knee arthritis, back pain, shoulder impingement, plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow — most of these respond very well to non-surgical management when caught early. Surgery is reserved for cases where non-surgical options have been genuinely tried and have not worked, or where the anatomy is severely damaged. At NMC, we always prefer the least invasive approach that gives you the best outcome.
Yes — in most cases, especially if caught early. Physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication, lifestyle changes (weight management, low-impact exercise), and sometimes knee injections (PRP or corticosteroid) are highly effective for conditions like osteoarthritis and patellar tendinitis.
Orthopaedic problems can start at any age. Sports injuries and ligament tears occur in young adults. Disc problems and repetitive strain injuries peak between 30–50. Osteoarthritis typically appears after 50, but in overweight individuals, it can start earlier. Bone health should be monitored from the 30s onward — especially in women.
Occasional cracking without pain is generally harmless — it is usually gas bubbles popping in the joint fluid. However, persistent cracking with pain, swelling, or stiffness is not normal and should be evaluated by a doctor.
Maintain a healthy weight, stay physically active (walking, swimming, yoga are joint-friendly), eat calcium and Vitamin D-rich foods, avoid smoking, and get your bone density checked after age 45 (especially women post-menopause). Early lifestyle interventions make a huge difference.
Visit New Medical Centre, B-39 Moti Nagar, West Delhi. Same-day appointments available. Walk-ins welcome.
Director of New Medical Centre, a NABH-certified multispecialty hospital in Moti Nagar, West Delhi, serving families since 1984. With over four decades of healthcare leadership, Dr. Devangi Thapar oversees clinical care, hospital operations, and patient welfare across all departments at NMC.