Exactly. Like for chronic back pain, pain specialists also do shots, nerve ablation, implanted nerve stimulators, etc. Not to mention physical therapy and alternative treatments like inversion tables from Amazon, massage therapy, and chiropractic care.
At-home cold-therapy machines like with knee or shoulder wraps are pretty awesome for any extremity, including the hands, wrists, and feet. They are usually prescribed after surgery, but they can help anytime to reduce pain and inflammation.
For knee arthritis that doesn't get enough relief fom cortisone shots, the interventional radiology procedure GAE is becoming more known as an alternative to knee replacement. There's also nerve ablation. And neurostimulator implants can even be used for knee pain.
For foot pain, even buying new rocker sneakers every three months or so can help. As can orthotics, night splints, cortisone shots, and surgery.
For hand/finger arthritis, paraffin wax can help, as can thermic gloves, meloxicam, Voltaren gel, and cortisone shots (sometimes after an MRI).
I usually live pain-free, but the average age in my part of Arizona is sometimes 65. So almost everyone has been to an orthopedist at least once. I love and hate orthopedists, mostly the latter. I rather see a pain specialist.