- Physical Examination
- Surgical Examination
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Skills
- Orthopedics
- Surgery Videos
- Laparoscopy
- Pediatrics
- Funny Videos
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Nursing Videos
- Plastic Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Histology and Histopathology
- Neurosurgery
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Dentistry
- Oncology and Cancers
- Anatomy Videos
- Health and Fitness
- Radiology
- Anaesthesia
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacology
- Interventional Radiology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Emergency Medicine
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Childbirth Videos
- General Medical Videos
- Nephrology
- Physiology
- Diet and Food Health
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Neurology
- Women Health
- Osteoporosis
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Hematology
- Rheumatology
- Toxicology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Disease
- Reproductive Health
- Burns and Wound Healing
- Kidney Zone Podcast
- Other
Joint pain
Category: Muscles, Bones & Joints · All muscles & joints symptoms
What it can feel like
Joint pain (arthralgia) means pain in one or more joints, with or without swelling and stiffness. The pattern is the diagnosis: how many joints, large or small, how long the morning stiffness lasts, and what else is happening in the body separate mechanical wear from inflammatory disease.
Possible causes
A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.
Common causes
Joint pain can be associated with osteoarthritis (wear-related, worse with use, brief morning stiffness), sprains and overuse, viral illnesses causing temporary joint aches, and gout attacks in a single joint.
Other possible causes
Joint pain can also be associated with inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis (prolonged morning stiffness, swelling, improving with movement), with infection inside a joint, and with connective tissue diseases.
Red flags — when to seek help promptly
- A single hot, red, very painful joint with fever — emergency (possible joint infection)
- Joint pain with swelling and morning stiffness lasting more than about an hour
- Joint pain with a rash, mouth ulcers, hair loss or Raynaud's colour changes
- Joint pain with unexplained weight loss, fever or night sweats
- Back pain that starts before age 40, is worse in the second half of the night and improves with exercise
What a clinician may do
A clinician will map the pattern of joints, examine for swelling and warmth, and ask about skin, eyes, bowel and family history. Blood tests include inflammation markers and sometimes antibody tests; joint fluid may be sampled, and X-rays or ultrasound image selected joints.
Watch: related videos
Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
What does the length of morning stiffness tell you?
Stiffness under about 30 minutes that eases as you get going suggests mechanical wear. Stiffness lasting an hour or more, with joints that loosen as the day progresses, points to inflammation — the immune system attacking the joint lining — and changes both urgency and treatment.
Can a virus make joints hurt for weeks?
Yes — several viruses cause a symmetric, arthritis-like picture that settles over weeks. The pattern is recognised by its sudden onset with the illness and gradual resolution; persistence beyond six to eight weeks prompts a fresh look for inflammatory arthritis.
Related symptoms — Muscles, Bones & Joints
Browse the J section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.