Written by Prof. Adell Towne | Reviewed by Uche Ruth
Updated on June 11, 2024
Most people have experienced mild joint pain from time to time. It’s common to have some stiffness in the morning that goes away as you go about your day, especially as you get older.
But did you know that there are over 100 different causes of joint pain? Read on to learn more about some of the most common causes for achy joints, how to tell them apart, and how to take the next steps on getting the right diagnosis and treatment.
Arthritis, or joint inflammation, is a general term that refers to swelling and pain in your joints. It’s a term that can refer to any medical condition that causes chronic (ongoing) or recurring joint pain, inflammation, or damage. It’s especially common in older adults, but it can also affect younger people — including children.
Different types of arthritis can have different symptoms. These symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe, and they can affect one joint, or many. People with arthritis usually have at least one of the following:
There are over 100 types of arthritis, each with their own causes, symptoms, and treatments. Some of the most common types of arthritis are:
Other examples of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis, caused by joint “wear and tear” over time. It starts by affecting your cartilage, the flexible connective tissue that cushions your joints. Normally, the cartilage allows the joints to glide over each other with ease. When cartilage starts to break down, it makes these movements less smooth. Pain, swelling, and stiffness can occur.
Some of the hallmarks of OA are:
Though osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, the most common joints are the:
In some cases, the cartilage wears down completely and the bones of the joints can come into contact with each other. This can lead to increased pain and a limited range of motion of the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder where your immune system begins damaging your body tissues. It results in stiffness and pain that can worsen over time. Smaller joints like the fingers and toes are usually affected first, but the symptoms can spread to the:
Some of the hallmarks of RA are:
Many people with RA will also have flu-like symptoms that come and go, like fever, weakness, and fatigue. And because RA is an autoimmune disease, it can also affect other body systems like your:
Gout is a type of arthritis that causes intense pain with redness, heat, and swelling — often in a single joint. It usually affects the big toes. It can also occur in other joints like the ankles, knees, hands, and elbows.
Some of the hallmarks of gout are:
Gout is unique because it is directly tied to your diet. It’s caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in your blood — a substance that is made when your body breaks down purines, a chemical naturally found in foods. If your body makes too much uric acid, it can accumulate in the tissues, causing a “flare” of sudden intense pain.
Psoriasis is an immune system disease that causes body-wide inflammation. People with psoriasis often have a raised rash (plaques and scales) on their skin. About 30% of people with psoriasis will also have inflammation in their joints, called psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Some of the hallmarks of PsA are:
Lupus is an immune system disease that can affect almost any part of your body. Arthritis is the most common symptom seen in lupus. Because the whole body can be affected, people with lupus will usually have other symptoms as well, like:
Some of the hallmarks of lupus arthritis are:
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain with no known cause. Though fibromyalgia doesn’t directly damage your joints like other types of arthritis, joint pain and stiffness are common symptoms. Fibromyalgia can also cause:
It depends. Though all types of arthritis can cause joint pain and inflammation, it’s possible to have arthritis without any pain. This especially true if it is mild, or if your healthcare provider catches it early. In some cases, arthritis may start out as stiffness or achiness, rather than pain. As arthritis progresses, the more inflamed (or damaged) the joint, the greater the chance of having pain.
If you have ongoing joint pain — or other symptoms — it can be helpful to talk to a healthcare provider about your experiences. Your provider can review your history and do a physical exam.
In particular, your healthcare provider may want to talk with you about:
Your provider may also suggest tests that can help with diagnosis:
Regardless of the cause of arthritis, the main goals of treatment are the same:
For autoimmune types of arthritis (like RA or lupus), treatments are also designed to help control the immune system and to decrease inflammation.
Physical therapy and exercise can help to reduce pain and stiffness, increase mobility, and bring blood and nutrients into your joints.
Examples of low-impact exercises that can keep joints strong and healthy are:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)**
NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen are usually the first choice for medication treatment. They help to reduce the pain and to decrease inflammation caused by many different types of arthritis. NSAIDs are available over-the-counter as pills, tablets, or ointments. Some types of NSAIDs are only available by prescription.
Pain medication
Just like NSAIDs, over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help to ease joint pain in many different conditions. These medications do not reduce inflammation. For severe symptoms, prescription medications may be needed.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
DMARDs are prescription medications used to treat inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. They change how your immune system behaves, and keep it from attacking your joints.
Biologic response modifiers
Biologic response modifiers are prescription medications that are also used to treat autoimmune arthritis like RA. They are often used together with DMARDs to change how your immune system functions in your body.
In some cases, a painful joint can be injected with medications like steroids or hyaluronic acid. Steroids (like prednisone) can help to reduce inflammation. Hyaluronic acid can help to stimulate the joint to produce more joint fluid, which can be decreased in some types of arthritis.
In severe or advanced cases, surgery can sometimes be an option — like a joint repair, joint replacement, or joint fusion. Some procedures involve traditional surgery, while others can be done arthroscopically. Arthroscopic surgery involves making small incisions in the skin near the joint and inserting a camera and specialized tools to perform the procedure.
Yes. Since there are many causes of arthritis, it is possible to have more than one type at the same time — especially if they have different causes. For example, you could have osteoarthritis from joint “wear and tear” over your lifetime and also have a separate autoimmune condition like lupus.
Yes. There are many conditions that can cause joint pain. Examples include:
These conditions are often caused by injury or overuse, and they tend to resolve over time with rest and supportive care. Unlike arthritis, they do not typically cause long-term symptoms or require ongoing treatment.
These drugs are vital for controlling and improving the health of individuals with this condition. They include both preventive and symptomatic treatments.
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