Identifying the many causes of joint pain
Whether it's sore shoulders from leaning over a desk at work, stiff knees first thing in the morning or creaking ankles during marathon training season, most people have experienced joint pain at some point.
Joint pain can range from mild discomfort to pain so severe you can’t move the joint. Pain can last for hours, weeks or months at a time.
In the case of arthritis, joint pain can be a disease on its own, but it's often a symptom of some type of illness or injury. Lots of different things can cause joint pain including:
- Arthritis
- Broken bones or fractures
- Bursitis
- Dislocation
- Fibromyalgia
- Hypothyroidism
- Tendon or ligament injury
- Lupus
- Lyme disease
- Strain or overuse
If you have joint pain, talk to an orthopaedic doctor about your symptoms. They'll ask you questions about your health and perform a physical exam. You might also need blood tests or imaging tests to help figure out a diagnosis.
While joint pain can get worse or more frequent as you get older, it can also affect children. If your child has pain, make an appointment with a pediatrician to figure out the root cause.