Orthopaedic consultant, Mr Craig Zhao, explains why it's not always the pain people notice first.
Sometimes it's the things they stop doing, the routes they avoid or the plans they quietly change.
Is it arthritis? A sports injury? Something that just comes with age?
And if it is affecting everyday life, does that mean surgery is inevitable?
According to Mr Craig Zhao, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Wells Health, these are some of the most common questions patients ask when they first come to clinic.
"We regularly see people who have spent months, or even years, adapting their lives around pain.
"They're still doing the things they enjoy, whether that's gardening, walking the dog, travelling or keeping active, but they're making more and more compromises along the way.
"Many people arrive convinced they already know what treatment they need," he says. "But often the most important step is understanding what's actually causing the problem in the first place."
For some patients, that problem may be knee osteoarthritis.
Others may be dealing with an injury or different musculoskeletal issue that requires a completely different approach.
Either way, understanding the cause of the pain is key.
One common misconception is that surgery is the only option when joint pain begins affecting daily life.
"That's not always the case" he explains.
"Every patient is different, which means treatment should be tailored to the individual".
"For some people, physiotherapy and exercise programmes may be the right place to start.
"For others, further investigation or a non-surgical treatment option such as Arthrosamid® may be appropriate before considering surgery."
At Wells Health, patients have access to expert consultant-led musculoskeletal care, physiotherapy, diagnostics and treatment options designed around their individual needs.
Pain has more than one solution and finding the right path forward starts with understanding what's causing it.
Discover more about Arthrosamid® and Wells Health's musculoskeletal services at wells-health.co.uk.