Joint Pain =

There are many causes of joint pain. The different causes result in differing features, treatments and outcomes.

Most causes of joint pain are harmless and resolve without any long-term problems. However, some causes of joint pain require treatment for a long time and cause long-term joint problems.

This leaflet summarises the most common causes of joint pains, and discusses when you should seek help if you have joint pain. There are links to many of the specific conditions which cause joint pain.

What is joint pain?

Joint pain is discomfort that arises from any joint. The medical word for joint pain is arthralgia. This is different to the word arthritis, which means inflammation of the joint, which causes pain and sometimes warmth, redness and/or swelling of the joint. A joint can be painful without being inflamed, or it can be both painful and inflamed.

What are the causes of joint pain?

There are many causes of joint pain. The possible causes will partly depend on your age. The possible causes for joint pain in children are different to the possible causes for adults.

The cause of joint pain may be obvious, such as following a sports injury. At other times it may need investigations and a referral for you to see a specialist to find the diagnosis.

Joint pain may also be caused by different structures in or around the joint. The underlying cause may therefore be a problem with:

• The lining of the joint.
• The bones of the joint or near the joint.
• The tendons, ligaments or muscles around the joint.

Causes of joint pain in adults - usually affecting more than one joint

• Any general body infection: joint pains may be caused by any general body infection, especially a flu-like illness with high temperature (fever). Many joints feel painful, or there may be a feeling of pain 'all over' or in all joints.
• Osteoarthritis (OA): the most common form of arthritis in the UK. This is a joint pain caused by a 'wear and tear' of the joint. It may be most noticeable at first in just one joint, such as the hip or knee, but as time goes on usually affects several joints. As well as the hip, knee and hands, the many joints in the spine are often affected.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of joints. Painful and stiff joints are often worse in the morning in people with RA. Persistent inflammation over time can damage affected joints. The severity can vary from mild to severe.
• Psoriatic arthritis: causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of joints in some people who have a skin condition called psoriasis.
• Reactive arthritis: caused when a joint reacts to an infection elsewhere in the body. The infection which triggers reactive arthritis is not actually in the joint but is usually in the gut or the bladder outlet (urethra).
• Gout: causes attacks of painful inflammation in one or more joints. The pain of a gout attack can be severe. Gout often first occurs in just one joint, most commonly the big toe, but may go on to affect other joints.
• Fibromyalgia: causes pains and tenderness in many areas of the body, as well as tiredness