Joint
Osteoarthritis
A disease of the whole joint: knee, hip, hands, spine.
Musculoskeletal · Saint‑HyacinthePain and mobility
Musculoskeletal health in Saint-Hyacinthe
Understand your pain. Preserve your mobility.
Is pain in your shoulder, knee or another joint limiting your activities? Are you concerned about persistent stiffness or muscle discomfort?
At the Clinique IPS du Palais, a musculoskeletal assessment makes it possible to review your symptoms, their possible origin and their impact on your daily life.
Depending on your situation, the plan may include tailored advice, rehabilitation, medication, an injection or a referral to a specialist.
Our goal: to help you understand your situation and choose the next steps together with you.
When to seek care?
A consultation may be appropriate
A consultation may be appropriate when you have:
You don't need to know the cause of your pain before seeing someone.
The purpose of the assessment is precisely to clarify the problem and determine the appropriate care.
- Persistent joint or muscle pain.
- Stiffness or reduced mobility.
- Pain that comes back with certain movements.
- Discomfort that disrupts your sleep or your activities.
- Symptoms associated with known osteoarthritis.
- Pain that persists despite the first measures taken.
- Questions about whether an injection is appropriate.
- A need for reassessment or specialist referral.
Understanding your pain
Osteoarthritis, tendinitis or bursitis?
Three common problems that are often confused. Our health education pages explain how they differ, how they are assessed and the treatment options.
Tendon
Tendinitis and tendinopathy
A painful condition affecting a tendon: shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, Achilles tendon.
Bursa
Bursitis
Irritation or inflammation of a bursa: shoulder, hip, elbow, knee.
Assessment
An assessment that starts with your daily life
Walking, climbing stairs, working, being physically active or simply sleeping: we want to understand what your pain is preventing you from doing.
During the appointment, the NP may examine, among other things:
- Where you feel the pain.
- How it started and how it has changed.
- The movements that make it worse or relieve it.
- Whether there is stiffness, swelling or weakness.
- The treatments and exercises already tried.
- Your medical history, your medications and previous tests.
- Your goals and the activities you want to get back to.
The physical examination helps guide the diagnosis and determine the next steps.
Tests when appropriate
An X-ray, an ultrasound, other imaging or lab tests may be suggested depending on the clinical findings.
These tests are not routine. Whether they are appropriate depends on the question they need to answer and how useful they are for your care.
The options
A plan tailored to your situation
Treatment depends on the problem identified, the intensity of the symptoms and their effects on your functioning. Options may include:
Advice on temporarily adapting certain activities.
Exercises and a referral to physiotherapy.
Medication, when appropriate.
An injection does not automatically replace rehabilitation. In osteoarthritis, appropriate therapeutic exercise remains a central part of care.3
Cortisone injections
An option for certain types of pain and inflammation
An injection involves administering a medication at a targeted site. Corticosteroids, often called “cortisone,” can reduce inflammation and relieve certain joint or periarticular pain.1
The choice depends on the diagnosis, the site to be treated and your medical situation.
What you need to know
- Relief and how long it lasts vary from person to person.
- The effect may be temporary.
- An injection does not repair worn cartilage.
- Repeated injections require a reassessment of whether they are appropriate.
Before the procedure, the expected benefits, risks and alternatives are discussed with you. Temporary pain after the injection may occur; infection is a rare complication. In some people with diabetes, blood sugar may rise temporarily.1
The consultation makes it possible to determine whether an injection is appropriate. It does not guarantee that an injection will be performed.
Viscosupplementation
Discussing hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis
Viscosupplementation involves injecting a hyaluronic acid-based product into a joint. It is mainly discussed in the context of knee osteoarthritis.
A decision that deserves an informed discussion
The benefits are uncertain and variable. Some people report relief, but studies do not consistently show a clinically important benefit. Several guidelines therefore do not recommend its routine use.2, 3
If this option is being considered, we discuss with you:
- The treatments already tried.
- The possible benefits and their limits.
- The risks and alternatives.
- The cost of the product and its administration.
Viscosupplementation does not rebuild cartilage and no result can be guaranteed.
Understanding viscosupplementation →
Referral
When a specialist consultation is needed
Some situations require additional expertise: uncertain diagnosis, persistent symptoms, significant limitation, suspected inflammatory disease or the possibility of specialized treatment.
Depending on the results of the assessment, the NP can refer you to the appropriate resource.4
| Possible referral | Purpose of the consultation |
|---|---|
| Orthopedics | Assess a joint or structural problem that may require a surgical opinion. |
| Rheumatology | Investigate suspected inflammatory arthritis or another rheumatic disease. |
| Physiatry | Further explore functional assessment and treatment and rehabilitation options. |
| Sports medicine | Assess a problem related to physical activity and support the return to activities. |
| Interventional radiology | Assess the possibility of an image-guided procedure when indicated. |
A referral to physiotherapy or another rehabilitation professional may also be part of the plan.
A referral based on your clinical need
The consultation request specifies the reason and the relevant information. The choice of resource depends on your situation and the services available.
Wait times depend on factors such as clinical priority and the availability of the receiving service. A referral does not guarantee an immediate appointment.
Your journey at the clinic
Four steps, at your own pace
Assess
We review your pain, your limitations and the care you have already received.
Explain
The NP presents the findings of the assessment, the relevant tests and the possible options.
Choose
Together, you discuss the treatment, its expected benefits, its limits and your preferences.
Reassess or refer
Follow-up makes it possible to review your progress and adjust the plan. A specialist consultation can be requested when indicated, at the initial assessment or later.
Before your appointment
Preparing for your appointment
If you want to discuss an injection, be sure to mention diabetes, anticoagulant use, a recent infection or planned surgery, among other things.
Do not stop any medication on your own before the appointment.
Bring, if you have them:
- Your list of medications and your allergies.
- Reports from imaging and previous consultations.
- Information about your previous injections: date, product, site and effect obtained.
- Information about your physiotherapy treatments or follow-up.
- Your main questions and the activities that are causing you problems.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about musculoskeletal pain
Do I need to know whether I have osteoarthritis, bursitis or a tendon problem?
No. Describe your symptoms and how they have changed. The assessment is used to clarify the diagnosis and the appropriate options.
Do I need an X-ray before my consultation?
Not necessarily. Bring any tests you have already had. The NP will determine whether new imaging is useful.
Is an injection always the best solution?
No. It may be appropriate for certain indications. Exercise, rehabilitation, adapting activities or other treatments may be preferred.
Can I receive an injection at my first appointment?
It depends on the assessment, the planned procedure and how care is organized. Specify your request when booking so the team can explain how it works.
What is the difference between cortisone and viscosupplementation?
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication. Viscosupplementation uses a hyaluronic acid-based product, mainly in the context of knee osteoarthritis.
Their indications and the evidence of their effectiveness differ. They are not interchangeable.
Can an injection help avoid surgery?
This cannot be guaranteed. An injection can sometimes help control symptoms, but it does not replace a surgical assessment when one is indicated.
Can the NP refer me to a specialist?
Yes, when a specialist consultation is indicated. The referral depends on the clinical findings and the needs identified.4
Can I continue my physiotherapy?
Tell the NP about your follow-up. With your consent, the relevant information can be shared to coordinate recommendations.
What are the fees?
The team will tell you the consultation fees and, where applicable, those for the procedure and the injected product. The costs of external services must be confirmed with the provider concerned.
!
Some situations require urgent assessment
A joint that suddenly becomes very painful, red and warm, especially with fever, a deformity after an injury or new significant weakness requires prompt assessment.
Back pain accompanied by a new loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness in the genital area, requires assessment in the emergency department.
Take the first step toward appropriate care
Is your pain limiting your activities, or are you no longer sure what steps to take?
At the Clinique IPS du Palais, in Saint-Hyacinthe, we suggest starting with an assessment to understand your situation and determine the next steps.
References
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), OrthoInfo. Cortisone Shot (Steroid Injection). Peer reviewed: July 8, 2024. Accessed September 26, 2026. orthoinfo.org
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), OrthoInfo. Viscosupplementation Treatment for Knee Arthritis. Peer reviewed: January 8, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2026. orthoinfo.org
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), October 19, 2022. nice.org.uk
- Santé Québec – Outaouais. Consulter un médecin spécialiste. Updated: November 18, 2024. Accessed September 26, 2026. cisss-outaouais.gouv.qc.ca
The information on this page is provided for information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a health professional.