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Joint pain is common, especially as you get older. There are things you can do to ease the pain but get medical help if it's very painful or it does not get better.
Common types of joint pain include:
You might feel pain in 1 joint, or more than 1 joint at the same time, such as your knees and hips.
There are many possible causes of joint pain. It might be caused by an injury or a longer-lasting problem such as arthritis.
Your symptoms might give you an idea what could be causing the pain. But do not self-diagnose, see a GP if you're worried.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain, swelling or bruising after intense or repetitive exercise | Sprain or strain |
| Over the age of 45, pain worse when walking and stiffness after moving | Osteoarthritis |
| Hot, swollen joint that's more painful when you move it or press on it | Bursitis |
| Pain and stiffness felt in both sides of your body that's worse after not moving (for example, when you wake up) | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Hot, swollen toe joint (usually big toe) with very bad pain that comes on suddenly | Gout |
| Hot, swollen joint and a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery | Joint infection (septic arthritis) |
There are some things you can do to ease joint pain.
try to rest the affected joint if you can
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, but do not take ibuprofen in the first 48 hours after an injury
try to lose weight if you're overweight
do not carry anything heavy
do not completely stop moving the affected joint
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Treatment for joint pain depends on what's causing it. Sometimes the pain might go away without treatment.
A GP might:
If you have joint pain, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.
To find out if there are any services in your area:
