Joint pain is a common health condition and may be the result of several known causes. Although usually the results of an injury or sprain, joint pain can results from underlying conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

There could be several different reasons for the pain in your joints:

Wear and tear: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition caused by the wear and tear and eventual loss of the cartilage surrounding the joint for injury, fracture, cartilage damage, tendonitis or sprain.

Autoimmune Disorders: Autoimmune Disorders in which a person’s body produces antibodies against its own body tissues, can also produce joint pain – e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Inflammation of the joint: Septic arthritis caused by bacterial inflammation of the joint may arise locally or may be carried to the joint from another area of infection, through the bloodstream. Infections such as Lyme disease, mumps, rubella, influenza, hepatitis, measles, and rheumatic fever may also cause joint inflammation.

Metabolic Disorders: Metabolic disorders such as gout and pseudogout, in which materials are deposited into the joints, can cause pain and inflammation.

Bone Diseases: Bone diseases such as osteomyelitis and Paget’s disease can cause diffuse joint pain.
Tumors and cancers: Tumors and cancers near a joint can affect the joint and produce pain.

The nature and severity of your joint pain symptoms will depend to a great extent on the cause. If the joint pain is due to inflammatory disorders such as injury or forms of arthritis, symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Redness
• Swelling of the joint
• Morning stiffness in the joint
• Stiffness of the joint after long periods of rest

If the pain is caused by non-inflammatory disorders, symptoms may include:

• Limited morning stiffness in the joint
• Exacerbation of pain with exercise
• Relief from pain with rest

If you are also experiencing symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss, the pain could be triggered by an underlying infectious disease and you should talk to your doctor.

Evaluating joint pain may be difficult because some symptoms and signs are common to various underlying conditions. Diagnosis may involve a detailed analysis of your medical history and a thorough physical examination. A variety of laboratory tests may be conducted.

The doctor may request x-ray scans, or imaging procedures like MRI and CT scans to evaluate the joint. The doctor may also refer you to a specialist for an arthroscopy, where a small, flexible tube inserted into the joint to examine through a very small skin incision to examine the interior regions.

Generally speaking, the process of clinically detectable osteoarthritis is irreversible, and typical treatment consists of medication or other interventions that can reduce the pain of OA and thereby improve the function of the joint.

Coping skills and lifestyle changes

Conservative measures, such as weight control, appropriate rest and exercise, and the use of mechanical support devices are usually beneficial to sufferers. Regular exercise, if possible, in the form of walking or swimming, is encouraged.

Dietary

Supplements which may be useful for treating OA include:

• Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E in both foods and supplements, provide pain relief from OA.
• Chondroitin sulphate improves symptoms of OA, and delays its progression.
• Glucosamine: A molecule derived from glucosamine is used by the body to make some of the components of cartilage and synovial fluid. Supplemental glucosamine may improve symptoms of OA and delay its progression.
• Vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) taken in large doses significantly reduced OA hand pain, presumably by reducing systemic inflammation. Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in patients with OA, and supplementation with Vitamin D3 is recommended for pain relief.

Systemic treatment

• Paracetamol is widely recommended as the first-line drug treatment in the management of osteoarthritis. This is based on its efficacy and safety as compared with NSAIDs. This position is supported by published guidelines (Recommended in 16 guidelines of osteoarthritis management), including those of the American College of Rheumatology and the European League of Associations of Rheumatology (EULAR).

• Australian Therapeutic Guideline series and National Prescribing Service publications similarly recommend paracetamol as first-line treatment in osteoarthritis.

• According to NICE guideline, Paracetamol and/or topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be considered ahead of oral NSAIDs, cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors or opioids for pain relief.

Surgery

If the above management is ineffective, joint replacement surgery may be required.

In the most severe cases, where the joint is irreparably damaged, your doctor or specialist may suggest surgery.

You can take steps to help prevent the development of osteoarthritis or to help prevent the progression of this condition. These steps include:

• Weight control. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to prevent osteoarthritis. Being overweight puts extra strain on the joints, particularly the large weight-bearing joints such as the knees, the hips, and the balls of the feet. It is estimated that every 1lb of body weight means about 4lb of stress at the knee joint.4 That would mean that losing just 5lb would take 20lb of stress off your knees. Extra weight may also alter the normal structure of the joint and increase the risk for osteoarthritis. Maintain a healthy weight to prevent or reduce joint damage and lower the stress on osteoarthritic joints. For more information, see the topic Weight Management.

• Injury prevention. Protect your joints from serious injury or repeated minor injuries to decrease your risk of damaging cartilage. Repeated minor injuries include those from job-related activities such as frequent or constant kneeling, squatting, or other postures that place stress on the knee joint.

• Injury prevention. Protect your joints from serious injury or repeated minor injuries to decrease your risk of damaging cartilage. Repeated minor injuries include those from job-related activities such as frequent or constant kneeling, squatting, or other postures that place stress on the knee joint.

• Exercise. Exercise can help reduce joint pain and stiffness. Light- to moderate-intensity physical activity may prevent a decline in, and may even restore, health and function. But some people with osteoarthritis may be reluctant to exercise because of joint pain after activity. You can take various steps to help relieve pain, such as heat and cold therapy or taking pain relievers, which may make it easier for you to exercise and stay active. Choose partial- or non-weight-bearing exercise, such as bicycling, swimming, or water exercise. You can also try light weight-lifting exercises, with supervision.

Research shows that even modest weight loss combined with exercise is more effective in decreasing pain and restoring function than either weight loss or exercise alone.