Joint Pain & Osteoarthritis

Advanced joint imaging and diagnosis-led care for osteoarthritis, cartilage injury and persistent joint pain.

Why Diagnosis Comes First

Not all joint pain is arthritis. A useful joint diagnosis needs to be specific.

Joint pain and osteoarthritis can arise from a range of underlying issues, including cartilage wear, inflammation, tendon injury or changes after surgery.

At MBR Health, advanced imaging – including 3T MRI, Spectral CT, ultrasound and X-ray – is used to assess the joint and surrounding structures in detail. This diagnosis-led approach helps identify the true source of pain and guide the most appropriate next step.

MRI Knee

The source matters

Common causes of joint pain.

Osteoarthritis

Progressive cartilage loss can cause pain, stiffness, 
and swelling, often affecting the knee, hip and hand.

Post-traumatic Joint Degeneration

Previous injury or surgery can accelerate degeneration by damaging 
cartilage, altering alignment, or changing load distribution.

Inflammatory Arthritis

Conditions such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis can produce synovial inflammation, swelling, and systemic symptoms that differ from wear-related joint disease.

Tendinopathy or Bursitis

Tendon and bursa-related pain can closely resemble joint pain 
and often occurs alongside early joint changes.

Subchondral Bone Stress or Oedema

Pain can arise from stress within the bone beneath the cartilage, sometimes 
before more obvious joint changes are visible on standard imaging.

How we investigate

3T MRI for Joint Pain

A high-resolution 3T MRI provides a detailed view of the joint, including cartilage, bone and surrounding soft tissues.

Best for: joint pain, osteoarthritis, swelling, cartilage assessment, tendon-related pain and post-surgical review.

Spectral CT for Joint Assessment

Spectral CT offers detailed assessment of bone structure, alignment and changes from wear or surgery. It’s particularly useful when greater clarity of bony detail is required.

Best for: subchondral bone assessment, osteoarthritis detail, calcification, post-surgical anatomy and complex structural review.

Ultrasound for Joint, Tendon
& Bursa Assessment

Ultrasound offers real-time imaging of tendons and surrounding soft tissues, and can be used for dynamic assessment and image-guided procedures.

Best for: tendinopathy, bursitis, joint effusions, superficial soft-tissue pain and procedural guidance.

X-ray for Joint Alignment
& Degenerative Change

X-ray remains a useful first step for assessing joint alignment and signs of wear. It offers a quick overview and can complement more detailed imaging when required.

Best for: osteoarthritis, alignment, joint space loss, osteophytes, and baseline structural assessment.

Gout on Spectral CT Wrist

Treatment Philosophy

Treatment is guided by the underlying diagnosis.

At MBR Health, the first step is identifying whether the primary issue relates to cartilage, inflammation, bone, tendon or post-surgical change. Where appropriate, patients may then explore image-guided options including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA) or other targeted interventions, selected according to the diagnosis and clinical context.

3T MRI WRIST ANGIOGRAPHY

Why Precision Delivery Matters

In joint medicine, the right tool matters as much as the right target.

Pain felt in one area may arise from different structures, each requiring a different approach. At MBR Health, image guidance is selected according to the anatomy and treatment objective. This may involve CT or ultrasound, depending on the clinical context. We don’t rely on a single method — we use the one most appropriate for the structure being treated.

“The foundation of better pain and injury outcomes is a comprehensive diagnosis — without it, every treatment decision is compromised.”

Dr Zane Sherif, Specialist Radiologist

Who May Benefit

Assessment may be considered for patients with:

Disclaimer

The information on this page is intended as general health information only and does not constitute medical advice. The conditions and symptoms listed on this page are provided as a general guide to the potential applications of joint imaging at MBR Health and do not imply that any specific imaging or treatment is appropriate for every patient described.

Joint pain and osteoarthritis have many potential causes and varying degrees of severity. Imaging findings should always be interpreted in the context of your symptoms, functional status and full clinical history by a qualified medical practitioner. A significant imaging finding does not always correlate with symptom severity, and the absence of significant imaging findings does not exclude a clinically meaningful condition.

Diagnoses, treatment decisions and clinical management are made by your treating medical practitioner.

Joint Pain or Stiffness

Joint pain or stiffness lasting more than six weeks.

Limited Mobility

Pain limiting walking, exercise or daily activity.

Mechanical Symptoms

Swelling, grinding, catching or locking in a joint.

Recurring Pain After Treatment

Recurring pain after surgery or repeated injections.

Interest in Joint-preserving Options

Interest in joint-preserving or biologic options before 
replacement becomes the default conversation.

Common Questions from Patients

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is osteoarthritis in Australia?

Osteoarthritis is common in Australia. Arthritis Australia states that 1 in 5 Australians over the age of 45 have osteoarthritis, and AIHW reports that prevalence rises sharply from age 45 onward.

What is the best scan for joint pain?

The best scan depends on the clinical question. A 3T MRI is often useful for cartilage, synovium, tendons, ligaments, marrow and soft tissues. CT or Spectral CT can be useful when bone, calcification, alignment or post-surgical structure needs closer assessment.

Where can I get joint pain imaging on the Gold Coast?

MBR Health provides advanced joint imaging on the Gold Coast for osteoarthritis, cartilage injury, tendon pain, swelling, post-surgical symptoms and persistent joint pain.

Can MRI show osteoarthritis?

Yes. MRI can show cartilage loss, subchondral bone change, synovitis, marrow oedema, tendon pathology and other joint findings relevant to osteoarthritis and persistent joint pain.

What is the difference between osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is primarily a degenerative joint process involving cartilage wear and structural change. Inflammatory arthritis involves immune-driven synovial inflammation and may be associated with swelling, systemic symptoms and multi-joint involvement.

Can tendon problems feel like joint pain?

Yes. Tendinopathy and bursitis can mimic joint pain and may coexist with osteoarthritis or cartilage pathology.

What is subchondral bone oedema?

Subchondral bone oedema refers to stress-related or reactive change in the bone beneath the cartilage surface. It can be associated with pain, overload and osteoarthritis progression.

When should I get imaging for joint pain?

Imaging may be considered when joint pain is persistent, recurrent, associated with swelling or mechanical symptoms, following injury or surgery, or when a more targeted treatment pathway is being considered.

Can MRI show cartilage damage?

Yes. MRI can often show cartilage thinning, focal defects, associated marrow change, and surrounding soft-tissue abnormalities that may contribute to symptoms.

Can CT show arthritis?

Yes. CT can show bony change, osteophytes, calcification, alignment issues, and subchondral structural change very well. MRI and CT answer different questions, so the most useful test depends on the structure being assessed.

Does this page include treatment options for osteoarthritis?

This page focuses on diagnosis-led assessment of joint pain and osteoarthritis. Where imaging identifies a treatable structural source, patients may then explore image-guided treatment options through the Regenerative & Targeted Therapies pathways.

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Our team combines world-leading imaging with evidence-based care to
ensure every next step is informed, precise, and designed around you.

Patient Information