# Straight answers about choosing joint care *Non-Surgical Joint Treatment Tempe — Common Questions* > Plain answers about non-surgical joint treatment Tempe, sore joints, home care, replacement, PRP, cost, activity, and nearby clinics. ## Joint soreness brings practical questions You may wonder whether the ache can wait, what may help, and what a visit involves. We’ve answered those questions in everyday words. You can start with the one that sounds familiar. There’s no need to read them in order. ## Sources 1. In the only randomised controlled trial to compare total knee replacement directly with non-surgical treatment in patients already eligible for surgery (n=100), the replacement group improved more at 12 months than the non-surgical group (KOOS4 32.5 vs 16.0; adjusted mean difference 15.8, 95% CI 10.0 to 21.5) but had four times the serious adverse events (24 vs 6, P=0.005). Only 13 of 50 patients (26%) assigned to non-surgical treatment alone had undergone knee replacement by 12 months. Skou ST, Roos EM, Laursen MB, et al. — [A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Total Knee Replacement.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26488691/). *New England Journal of Medicine*, 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1505467. 2. A systematic review of prospective studies in unselected osteoarthritis patients found that the proportion reporting an unfavourable long-term pain outcome ranged from about 7% to 23% after hip replacement and 10% to 34% after knee replacement; in the best-quality studies, 9% or more after hip and about 20% after knee replacement. Beswick AD, Wylde V, Gooberman-Hill R, et al. — [What proportion of patients report long-term pain after total hip or knee replacement for osteoarthritis? A systematic review of prospective studies in unselected patients.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22357571/). *BMJ Open*, 2012. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000435. 3. In 63,158 hip and 54,276 knee replacement patients in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, the lifetime risk of requiring revision surgery was about 5% for patients operated on after age 70 with no sex difference, but rose to 35% (95% CI 30.9-39.1) for men having surgery in their early 50s, with women's risk about 15% lower at the same age. Median time to revision for patients operated on younger than 60 was 4.4 years. The authors state their evidence challenges the trend toward more replacements in younger patients. Bayliss LE, Culliford D, Monk AP, et al. — [The effect of patient age at intervention on risk of implant revision after total replacement of the hip or knee: a population-based cohort study.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28209371/). *The Lancet*, 2017. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30059-4. 4. The 2019 ACR/Arthritis Foundation guideline makes STRONG recommendations for exercise, weight loss in people with knee and/or hip OA who are overweight or obese, self-efficacy and self-management programs, tai chi, cane use, tibiofemoral bracing for tibiofemoral knee OA, topical NSAIDs for knee OA, oral NSAIDs, and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections for knee OA. Radiofrequency ablation for knee OA, acupuncture, thermal modalities, acetaminophen, duloxetine and tramadol are only CONDITIONAL recommendations. Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. — [2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31908163/). *Arthritis & Rheumatology*, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/art.41142. ## When is joint replacement necessary? Replacement may be worth discussing when severe soreness and lost movement continue after other care. There isn’t one set waiting period for everyone. Ask how long each earlier choice needs and what more time may change. The exam and X-ray also matter. ## What happens during a joint exam? The examiner checks movement, strength, swelling, sore areas, and the motions that hurt. You’ll be asked when the ache started and what you tried. An X-ray may help explain joint wear. Ask for a plain account of what the exam found. ## What questions should I ask before joint replacement? Ask how much relief is likely and which tasks may become easier. You’ll want the main risks and recovery time explained plainly. Ask how much soreness could remain afterward. It’s fine to take the answers home before deciding. ## What can I try at home for a sore joint? Gentle movement, warmth before activity, and a cold pack after swelling may help. A cane or brace can make some tasks easier. Ask your own doctor about a topical medicine, which is a gel or cream put on the sore area. Don’t continue an activity that steadily worsens the ache. ## How is PRP prepared from my own blood? Platelet-rich plasma, called PRP, is made by separating your blood and keeping liquid plasma with extra platelets, small parts in blood that help begin repair. Clinic staff then place the prepared blood material where the joint aches. ## Can I stay active with a sore joint? Often you can, though the amount and kind of movement matter. A flat walk, steep descent, and quick court movement strain joints differently. Ease back when swelling or next-day soreness keeps rising. You don’t need to prove anything to your joint. ## How can I compare nearby joint clinics? Compare the actual drive, appointment time, cost, and care offered. Chandler is practical for many Tempe neighborhoods, while Scottsdale may suit north Tempe. You’ll find nearby office details below. Urgent symptoms still need same-day medical care. ## A clinic visit can make the choices clearer QC Kinetix offers regenerative treatments, meaning clinic staff prepare material taken from your body and use it at the sore joint. Medical providers are licensed clinic staff who examine your joint and carry out care. They’ll review your earlier care and explain what may suit the soreness. The Chandler office is at 1100 S. Dobson Rd., Suite 210, Chandler, AZ 85286. Call (602) 837-PAIN to discuss scheduling and location. You’re welcome to bring a short note and your questions. Book a free consultation: --- Welcome. Let’s make sense of the soreness and the care available. Warm guidance for an aching joint, simple home relief, signs needing care, clinic visits, and choices before surgery. Warm, plain help for Tempe residents with joint soreness and care choices. This Tempe guide is operated by the owners of the QC Kinetix clinics across the Phoenix area; those clinic owners may benefit when a reader schedules care after using it. © 2026 Tempe Joint Decision Log. General education only; a clinician who knows your history should guide personal medical choices.