Joint Pain

Causes of joint pain

Joint pain, known medically as arthralgia when non-inflammatory, can be caused by wear and tear, disease, injury or disorders. Joint pain can affect one joint or more depending on the cause.

Wear and tear on the joint can sometimes be due to excessive strain and pressure on the muscles, ligaments, tendons and cartilage from work or exercise, or through the natural ageing process. Sprains, cartilage damage, tendonitis or bone fractures can all result in joint pain.

Conditions such as osteoarthritis are degenerative and lead to wear and tear on the joint. The loss of cartilage between the bones causes friction that results in joint pain.

Autoimmune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erytematosis) are another cause of joint pain. The body produces antibodies to fight infections but in autoimmune problems these antibodies can attack perfectly healthy tissue around the joint.

Inflammation of the joint from bacterial infections such as mumps, flu, measles, rubella, lyme disease, hepatitis and rheumatic fever can all lead to joint pain.

Other rarer causes of joint pain include diseases of the bone such as Paget's disease and Osteomyelitis or from cancers and tumours which are close to the joint.

Symptoms of joint pain

Symptoms of joint pain will vary depending on the nature of the condition and its severity. With inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Swollen joints
• Redness around the joint
• Stiff joints

Non-inflammatory joint problems may cause:

• Pain when exercising
• Limited movement in the morning

If these symptoms are accompanied by weight loss, fever and fatigue then there may be an underlying infectious disease and you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of joint pain

Joint pain is a common symptom which often clears up without any intervention however persistent joint pain indicates a more serious underlying condition.

Your GP will refer you for diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your joint pain. Tests include X-rays, MRI or CT scans. You may also be referred for an arthroscopy whereby a small flexible tube is inserted into the joint through a small skin incision to examine the joint and surrounding tissue.

Related terms

Knee pain
Shoulder pain
Hip pain
Osteoarthritis
Cartilage
Glucosamine