If all other forms of treatment fail to address joint pain, surgery may be necessary. Each year, more than 770,000 hip and knee replacements are performed in the United States. Although surgeries are common, a doctor should work carefully with a patient to determine if surgery is the only option. Physical exams and thorough diagnostic testing, as well as further tests to closely examine the bones, include:

A radiograph or x-ray, which is useful for revealing fractures or other damage to the bone.

A computed tomography, or CAT scan, which generates three-dimensional images of the joints

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to generate a picture of the joint. MRI’s can revel ligament injuries, as well as damage to the tendons and bones.