Joint Pain

Causes of Joint Pain

Joint pain (arthralgia) can affect a single joint or multiple joints and may be caused by a variety of conditions. Common causes include:

Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease, often affecting weight-bearing joints like hips and knees. More common with age and previous injuries.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Inflammatory arthritis affecting hands, wrists, and sometimes larger joints. Symptoms include swelling, stiffness, fatigue, and fever.
• Gout: Caused by urate crystal accumulation, often affecting the big toe but can occur in other joints.
• Other Inflammatory Arthritis: Includes ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Sudden Joint Pain

May result from fractures, infections, or soft tissue injuries affecting tendons, ligaments, or muscles.

Pain in Specific Joints

• Neck Pain: Often from osteoarthritis or wear and tear.
• Shoulder Pain: Can result from dislocations, frozen shoulder, or tendon inflammation.
• Elbow Pain: May be caused by trauma, infection, or overuse injuries such as tennis or golfer’s elbow.
• Back Pain: Related to poor posture, osteoporosis, disc prolapse, or muscle strain.
• Hip Pain: Often due to osteoarthritis, infection, or referred pain from the back.
• Knee Pain: Most common joint pain; can arise from inflammation, infection, or injury. Seek urgent help if on blood-thinning medication.
• Foot & Ankle Pain: Can result from sprains, gout, or pseudogout causing redness, heat, and swelling.

Widespread or General Joint Pain

• Fibromyalgia: Chronic pain affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
• Infections: Flu, STIs, tropical infections (Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue), Hepatitis, or Lyme disease.
• Vitamin D Deficiency: Can lead to bone and joint pain; testing is recommended.
• Connective Tissue Disorders: Includes Lupus, Scleroderma, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
• Rare Causes: Tumours, bone cancers, leukaemia, and other infections.

Diagnosis of Joint Pain

Diagnosis involves a thorough history, physical examination, and sometimes imaging or laboratory tests:

• X-ray: Detects fractures and bone changes.
• MRI or Ultrasound: Evaluates soft tissue and nerve damage.
• Blood Tests: Checks for inflammation, vitamin/mineral levels, and autoimmune markers.
• Joint Fluid Analysis: Detects crystals or infection in the joint.

Treatment Options for Joint Pain

Management depends on the cause and severity. Options include:

• Painkillers for symptom relief
• Targeted physiotherapy for strengthening and mobility
• Joint injections and long-term medications to reduce inflammation and flare-ups
• Specialist care from rheumatologists or orthopaedic surgeons for chronic conditions

At Medical Express Clinic, we provide same-day walk-in appointments, diagnostics, blood tests, X-ray referrals, and access to orthopaedic or rheumatology specialists. We also provide medical certificates or sick notes if required.