Joint Pain

Key takeaways

• Joint pain is pain, aching or tenderness in or around the joints.
• Joint pain can be mild to severe. Some people also have swelling, redness or stiffness in the affected area.
• Various conditions can cause joint pain, such as injuries, arthritis and autoimmune diseases.
• Treatments for joint pain depend on the cause. They may include physical therapy, pain relief medication and lifestyle changes.

Overview

What is joint pain?

Joints are where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee. Joint pain is discomfort, soreness or inflammation in or around the joints. Sometimes people have swelling, redness or stiffness in the joint. You can feel pain from any part of the joint. This includes the cartilage, ligaments or muscles.

Some people feel mild joint pain or discomfort after certain physical activities. Other times, joint pain can feel intense enough to interfere with your mobility and daily activities

Other names for joint pain

Arthralgia, Arthritis

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Possible Causes

What can cause joint pain?

Some causes of joint pain include but are not exclusive to:

• Injuries - Injuries such as broken bones or sprains can cause joint pain.
• Viral infections - Some viral infections may make joint movement painful.
• Arthritis - Arthritis is a condition where your joints are inflamed. The most common types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Gout.
• Tendonitis - Tendonitis happens when the tendons connecting muscles to bones become inflamed. People with tendonitis often feel aching and pain near the affected joint. The pain is usually worse during movement.
• Bursitis - Bursitis is a painful swelling, usually around your joints. It’s common in the shoulders, elbows, knees and feet.

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Treatment & management

How can joint pain be treated?

The treatment for joint pain depends on the cause. Some possible ways to ease joint pain include:

• Over-the-counter pain reliever
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medication
• Exercise or physical therapy (Strengthens the muscles supporting the joints)
• Weight loss (Reduces pressure on your joints if you're overweight)

Some causes of joint pain need more specialized treatment. For example, people with rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis may need medications. These medications can also reduce joint pain and prevent joint deformity.

It is important to work with a health care provider to determine the cause of your joint pain so that it can be treated appropriately. MinuteClinic offers a variety of services that can help with diagnosis and treatment.

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When to seek medical care

Go to the hospital or call 911 if you:

• Experience sudden, severe pain in your spine
• Have joint pain accompanied by a rash, high-grade fever or severe abdominal pain
• Experience serious side effects from your joint pain medication
• Experienced a traumatic injury to a joint

Call your provider if:

• You notice warmth, redness or swelling around a painful joint
• The pain is severe
• Your joint problems interfere with your daily activities
• You notice changes to the shape of your joints (deformity)
• You can't use your joint normally
• Your joint pain doesn't improve or worsens despite self-help measures

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This material is for reference only and should not be used to determine treatment for specific medical conditions.

Please visit a healthcare provider for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 911 or visit your local Emergency Department.

References used as sources for this page

1. Arthritis and Joint Pain Management https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/pain/joint-pain-management.htm. via CDC. (Accessed February 2023).
2. Osteoarthritis https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm. (OA) via CDC. (Accessed February 2023).
3. Rheumatoid arthritis https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648. via Mayo Clinic. (Accessed February 2023).
4. Know When to Go to the Emergency Room http://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/when-to-go-emergency-room/. via Arthritis Foundation. (Accessed February 2023).

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