Slideshow: Top 10 causes of joint pain

1. Sports injuries

Sports injuries are a common cause of joint pain in the elbow, knee, shoulder and ankle joints. View our animation of common sports injuries

2. Osteoarthritis

The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are the knees, hips, and finger joints. Read more about osteoarthritis and joints.

3. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is usually symmetrical, affecting the joints on both sides of the body at once. View the joints affected in RA.

4. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome which has burning and aching in the joints as one of the symptoms. The cause is unknown. Find out more about fibromyalgia.

5. Gout

Gout is a condition that occurs when there are raised levels of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid crystallises out into the joints, causing pain, redness and heat. The joint most commonly affected is the big toe, but the instep, ankle, knee, wrist, elbow and fingers can be affected. More about gout.

6. Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints. One of the most common areas for bursitis is the shoulder joint, but it can affect the elbow, knee and other joints. Overuse injuries can cause bursitis. Find out more about bursitis.

7. Infectious diseases

Some infectious diseases can have joint pain as a symptom, e.g. Lyme disease, typhus, influenza, hepatitis B, rubella and chickenpox.

8. Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis is an infection (usually bacterial) in a joint. This usually happens because of an injury or from surgery. The most common organisms causing such infection are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, and the joints most commonly affected are the knee and the hip. Pain usually comes on suddenly in one joint.

9. Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases, where the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissue, can have joint pain as a symptom, e.g. lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, and psoriasis.

10. The weather?

The scientific evidence may be lacking, but some people swear by an association between the weather and their joint pain. Read this Arthritis and the weather to find out more.

Health Centres by Group

Slideshows

Common Medicines

Health Centres

Search

Common symptoms

Tools

Health Centres

Health Centres

Other Topics

Weightloss Tools

Nutrition Tools

Physical Activity Tools

Other Tools

Directories

Support Groups

Medical Dictionary

Health Tools

Risk Tests

Quizzes