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If you have been asking yourself, “Why do my joints hurt?”, the answer can vary depending on your age, lifestyle, medical history, the joint affected and the pattern of your symptoms.
Joint pain can develop because of an injury, overuse, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, bursitis or other musculoskeletal conditions. Sometimes the pain improves with rest, while persistent or worsening pain may require evaluation by an orthopedic specialist.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 1.71 billion people worldwide live with musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injuries and other problems affecting the bones, muscles and joints.
So, if joint pain is affecting your ability to walk, exercise, work, sleep or perform everyday activities, it is worth understanding what may be causing it.
Joint and musculoskeletal problems are extremely common worldwide.
According to WHO, approximately 1.71 billion people globally live with musculoskeletal conditions. WHO’s analysis of Global Burden of Disease 2019 data estimated approximately 528 million people were living with osteoarthritis, while rheumatoid arthritis affected approximately 18 million people and gout approximately 54 million people.
Osteoarthritis is particularly common. WHO reports that around 73% of people living with osteoarthritis are older than 55, and the knee is the most frequently affected joint, with approximately 365 million people affected globally.
Indian data provide useful context on the burden of osteoarthritis. A Global Burden of Disease 2019 analysis estimated that around 62.35 million people in India were living with osteoarthritis in 2019, compared with approximately 23.46 million in 1990. Knee osteoarthritis was the most common form of osteoarthritis in India, and the burden was higher among women.
These statistics highlight how common joint and musculoskeletal problems are, but your individual symptoms still need to be considered in context.
The most common causes of joint pain include:
Let’s look at what each may feel like from a patient’s perspecti
If your knee, hip, hand or another joint hurts mainly when you use it, and you experience stiffness after sitting or resting, osteoarthritis may be one possible cause.
Osteoarthritis occurs when tissues within the joint undergo structural changes and break down over time. It commonly affects the knees, hips, hands, neck and lower back.
You may notice:
Osteoarthritis is not simply an unavoidable consequence of ageing. WHO notes that factors such as ageing, obesity and previous joint injury contribute to its development.
What increases the risk of osteoarthritis?
Factors associated with osteoarthritis include:
If you wake up with significant stiffness and notice pain or swelling in several joints, particularly on both sides of your body, an inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis may be considered.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks tissues in the joints. It can cause:
Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the hands, wrists and feet but can affect other joints as well.
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes, particularly when accompanied by swelling or pain in multiple joints, can be a feature of inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, symptoms vary between individuals, so persistent morning stiffness should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
If your joints remain stiff for a prolonged period after waking, discuss this pattern with a doctor rather than assuming it is simply ageing.
Did your joint pain begin after a fall, sports activity, accident or sudden twisting movement?
An injury may be responsible.
Common injuries include:
Some injuries happen suddenly, while others develop gradually because of repeated stress.
Sports injuries are not limited to professional athletes. Repetitive movements at work or during everyday activities can also contribute to musculoskeletal injuries.
When should you take an injury seriously?
Seek medical evaluation if you experience:
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Sometimes there is no single injury that explains your pain.
Instead, you may have gradually developed pain because you repeatedly use the same joint.
For example:
Overuse injuries can develop gradually and may initially feel like mild discomfort before becoming more persistent.
If you suddenly develop severe pain, swelling and warmth in one joint, especially the big toe, gout may be one possible explanation.
Gout occurs when urate crystals build up in a joint and trigger inflammation.
A gout attack can:
However, not every painful or swollen joint is gout. A doctor may need to assess the symptoms and, when appropriate, perform tests to determine the cause.
You may also experience pain because structures around the joint not necessarily the joint itself, are irritated.
For example, bursitis involves inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction around joints.
Tendon problems can also cause pain, particularly after repetitive activity or overuse.
You may notice:
The exact cause should be assessed based on the location and pattern of your symptoms.
A joint infection is less common but can be serious.
If your joint suddenly becomes very painful, swollen and hot, particularly when you also have a fever or feel generally unwell, you should seek urgent medical attention.
Possible warning signs include:
A hot, swollen joint accompanied by fever should not simply be treated as ordinary joint pain.
You may be wondering:
“I haven’t fallen or injured myself, so why are my joints hurting?”
Joint pain does not always result from an obvious injury.
Possible causes include:
For example, osteoarthritis can develop gradually over time, while rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint inflammation without a recent physical injury.
If your pain keeps returning or gradually becomes worse, identifying the underlying cause is more useful than repeatedly treating the pain alone.
Morning joint pain can have different causes.
If your joints feel stiff for a short time after waking and improve as you start moving, osteoarthritis may be one possibility.
If morning stiffness lasts longer, particularly more than 30 minutes, and is associated with swelling or pain in multiple joints, inflammatory arthritis may need to be considered.
The duration of stiffness, number of joints involved and other symptoms can help a doctor understand the possible cause.
Yes.
Joint pain is not only an older person’s problem.
Young adults can experience joint pain because of:
Osteoarthritis can also occur in younger people, particularly when there has been a previous joint injury, abnormal joint structure or certain genetic factors.
So if you are young and experiencing persistent joint pain, do not automatically assume that it is “just because of age” or exercise.
Joint pain can occur almost anywhere in the body.
You may notice pain while:
Knee osteoarthritis is particularly common and is the most frequently affected joint in osteoarthritis worldwide.
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Hip problems may cause pain around the hip, groin, thigh or sometimes the knee.
You may have difficulty:
Shoulder pain can result from injuries, overuse, tendon problems or other conditions affecting the surrounding structures.
Pain in the hands or wrists may occur because of arthritis, repetitive activity, injury or inflammatory conditions.
Foot and ankle pain can result from injuries, arthritis, overuse or inflammatory conditions such as gout.
Joint pain can occur by itself or together with other symptoms.
Pay attention to:
The combination of symptoms can be more informative than pain alone.
For example, pain after activity may suggest a different problem from sudden severe pain accompanied by swelling and fever.
If you visit an orthopedic doctor for persistent joint pain, the evaluation usually begins with your symptoms and medical history.
Your doctor may ask:
Depending on your symptoms, the doctor may recommend investigations such as:
Not everyone with joint pain needs every test. The appropriate investigation depends on the suspected cause.
There is no single treatment for all joint pain. Treatment depends on what is causing the pain, which joint is affected, how severe the symptoms are and your overall health.
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include:
Your doctor may recommend changes to activity, weight management, exercise or daily movements.
Physiotherapy may help improve:
Depending on the cause, a doctor may recommend appropriate medications for pain or inflammation. Do not routinely self-medicate, especially if you have other medical conditions or take other medicines.
In selected conditions, a doctor may recommend an injection as part of treatment.
Some severe joint conditions may require surgical treatment when conservative treatment is insufficient or when there is significant structural damage.
The goal is to treat the underlying problem rather than simply mask the pain.
If your symptoms are mild and there are no warning signs, some basic measures may help.
You may consider:
However, home care should not replace medical evaluation when pain is persistent, severe or worsening.
If joint pain persists, keeps returning, becomes worse, affects sleep or daily activities, or is associated with swelling or prolonged stiffness, it is advisable to consult a doctor for an appropriate evaluation.
Consider consulting an orthopedic doctor if:
At Smt. S.R. Mehta & Sir K.P. Cardiac Institute patients can access orthopedic evaluation and treatment for a range of bone and joint conditions.
For persistent joint symptoms, an orthopedic assessment can help determine whether the problem is related to arthritis, injury, overuse or another musculoskeletal condition.
Some symptoms require urgent medical attention.
Seek prompt medical care if you have:
A sudden hot, swollen joint accompanied by fever or feeling unwell can indicate an infection and should be assessed urgently.
You cannot prevent every cause of joint pain, but several habits may help protect your musculoskeletal health.
Maintain a healthy weight
Excess body weight can increase stress on weight-bearing joints and is associated with osteoarthritis risk.
Stay physically active
Regular, appropriate physical activity can help maintain muscle strength and joint function.
Avoid sudden increases in exercise
If you suddenly increase exercise intensity, duration or frequency, you may increase your risk of overuse injuries.
Use correct exercise techniques
Proper technique and appropriate equipment can help reduce avoidable injuries.
Treat injuries properly
Do not ignore an injury simply because the pain initially seems manageable. Untreated injuries may contribute to ongoing problems in some cases.
Pay attention to recurring pain
If the same joint repeatedly hurts, identify the underlying reason rather than repeatedly ignoring the symptoms.
What is the most common cause of joint pain?
There is no single cause for every person. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of persistent joint pain, particularly in the knees, hips and hands. Injuries, overuse, inflammatory arthritis and gout are other possible causes.
What causes joint pain without swelling?
Joint pain without visible swelling can occur with osteoarthritis, overuse, tendon problems, previous injuries and other conditions. The absence of swelling does not identify the cause by itself.
Why do my knees hurt when I climb stairs?
Knee pain while climbing stairs can occur for several reasons, including osteoarthritis, problems involving the structures around the knee, previous injury or muscle weakness. An orthopedic assessment can help determine the cause.
Can joint pain be caused by stress?
Stress can affect how people experience pain and may contribute to muscle tension or changes in activity and sleep. However, persistent joint pain should not automatically be attributed to stress without considering other possible causes.
Can joint pain be a sign of arthritis?
Yes. Arthritis commonly causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling, but joint pain does not always mean arthritis. Injuries, overuse, gout and other conditions can also cause similar symptoms.
Is joint pain normal with ageing?
Joint pain becomes more common with age, but persistent or disabling pain should not simply be accepted as an unavoidable part of ageing. Osteoarthritis, for example, is common in older adults but can also occur in younger people.
Can young people develop arthritis?
Yes. Some forms of arthritis can affect younger adults, and osteoarthritis can also occur in younger people, particularly after joint injury or in the presence of certain structural or genetic factors.
When should I see a doctor for joint pain?
Consider seeing a doctor if the pain persists, keeps returning, affects your sleep or daily activities, becomes worse, or is associated with swelling or prolonged stiffness. Seek urgent medical attention for a hot, swollen joint with fever or severe pain following an injury.
Which doctor should I consult for joint pain?
An orthopedic doctor can evaluate many causes of bone and joint pain, particularly when symptoms involve an injury, movement limitation or persistent musculoskeletal problems. Depending on the symptoms, you may also need evaluation by another specialist, such as a rheumatologist.
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