About this symptom
Joint pain is pain, aching or stiffness where two bones meet, such as the knees, hips, shoulders, hands or feet. It can affect one joint or many.
It can follow an injury or overuse, or come from arthritis, gout, an infection or the hormone changes of the menopause. Signs that a joint is inflamed are swelling, warmth, redness, tenderness and pain when it moves.
Possible causes
This is not a diagnosis. These are the causes doctors think about, with the ones that are most urgent to rule out first.
- Septic arthritisA joint infection: sudden severe pain in a hot, swollen, red joint that is hard to move, often with a fever or shivers. It needs urgent treatment.
- GoutSudden, severe pain in a hot, swollen big toe, often coming on overnight.Read about it
- Rheumatoid arthritisPain and stiffness on both sides of the body that are worse after rest. It usually affects the hands, feet and wrists.Read about it
- ChikungunyaSudden fever with severe joint pain a few days after a mosquito bite. The joint pain usually lasts a few days but can go on for weeks or months.Read about it
- Osteoarthritis of the kneePain and stiffness in the knee when walking or after activity, usually after age 45. It also affects the hips and the small joints of the hands.Read about it
- Sprains and strainsPain, swelling or bruising around a joint after intense or repeated exercise.Read about it
- BursitisA warm, swollen joint that hurts when you move it or press on it.
- MenopauseLower oestrogen levels can cause aching, painful joints.Read about it
When to get help
See a doctor the same day if a joint is hot, red and swollen, or very painful and hard to move, especially with a fever or shivering. It can be a joint infection (septic arthritis), which needs urgent treatment.
See a doctor soon if you have:
- Pain or swelling that is getting worse, keeps coming back, or has not improved with home care
- Stiffness that lasts more than 30 minutes after waking
- Pain that disturbs your sleep or stops you doing daily activities
- A fever that is not part of a cold or flu, or weight loss you cannot explain
- A child with joint pain
Mild aching after unusual activity that eases with rest can wait for a routine visit.
What you can do at home
For mild pain after overuse, or while you wait to be seen:
Do
- Rest the joint, but keep moving it gently rather than stopping completely
- Use an ice pack wrapped in a towel, for up to 20 minutes at a time
- Ask a pharmacist or doctor which painkiller suits you
- Keep to a healthy weight and stay active with regular exercise
Do not
- Do not wait if the joint is hot, red and swollen with a fever
- With joint pain and fever in mosquito season, do not take anti-inflammatory painkillers until a doctor has ruled out dengue
- Do not smoke
What the doctor will do
The doctor will ask which joint hurts, how and when it started, whether the pain is constant or comes and goes, any injury or recent illness, what makes it better or worse, and how stiff the joint is in the morning. They will look for swelling, tenderness and warmth, and check how well the joint moves.
Tests depend on the likely cause. They may include:
- Blood tests, such as a blood count and markers of inflammation, and tests for particular kinds of arthritis
- An X-ray of the joint
- Joint aspiration: fluid taken from the joint with a needle and tested for infection and crystals
Treatment depends on the cause. It can include exercise and physiotherapy, medicines for pain and swelling, injections into the joint, or for an infection, sometimes with draining of the joint in hospital.
Myths and facts
Things people often say about this. Open each one to see what is true.
Myth“Joint pain is just old age, and nothing can be done about it.”What is true?
Fact
Joint pain has many causes, and not all are linked to age. Even osteoarthritis does not necessarily get worse, and regular exercise, keeping to a healthy weight and physiotherapy can help. See a doctor if the pain disturbs your sleep or daily life.
Myth“I should keep the painful joint completely still until the pain goes.”What is true?
Fact
Rest the joint, but do not stop moving it completely. Regular exercise is a key part of managing osteoarthritis. The exception is an injury where you cannot put weight on the joint, which needs emergency care.
Myth“Chikungunya joint pain goes as soon as the fever is gone.”What is true?
Fact
The joint pain from chikungunya usually lasts a few days, but it can go on for weeks, months or even years. See a doctor if it continues.
Questions to ask your doctor
Tick the ones you want answered and take them with you.
Common questions
How can I tell arthritis from a sprain?
You cannot reliably tell at home, so do not diagnose yourself. A sprain or strain usually follows intense or repeated exercise or an awkward movement, with pain, swelling or bruising. Arthritis brings pain and stiffness in the joints. See a doctor if the pain does not improve with home care.
Should I rest a painful joint completely?
No. Rest it, but keep moving it gently rather than stopping completely. An ice pack wrapped in a towel can help, and a pharmacist or doctor can tell you which painkiller suits you.
Why is my joint pain still there after chikungunya?
Joint pain from chikungunya usually lasts a few days, but it can be prolonged, for weeks, months or even years. Paracetamol is used for the pain and fever, but avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers until a doctor has ruled out dengue. See a doctor if it continues.
Which joint pain needs a doctor the same day?
A joint that is hot, red, swollen and very painful, especially with a fever or shivering, because it can be an infection of the joint. Get emergency care for very severe pain after a fall or injury, a joint you cannot put weight on, or a joint that looks out of place.