Experiences with
Joint painTypes of joint pain
Common types of joint pain include:
- knee pain
- shoulder pain
- hip pain
- foot pain, including your ankle and toes
- hand pain, including your wrist and fingers
- elbow pain
- neck pain
You might feel pain in 1 joint, or more than 1 joint at the same time, such as your knees and hips.
Causes of joint pain
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.
How you can ease joint pain
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
- joint pain is stopping you doing normal activities or affecting your sleep
- the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
- the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
- your joints are stiff for more than 30 minutes after waking up
- you have joint pain and the skin around it is swollen and feels hot
- you have joint pain and feel generally unwell and have a high temperature or feel hot and shivery
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .
- you have very bad joint pain after a fall or injury
- you're unable to walk or put weight on a joint
- your joint has moved out of place
- you have any tingling or you have no feeling in the area around the joint after an injury
Treatments for joint pain
Treatment for joint pain depends on what's causing it. Sometimes the pain might go away without treatment.
A GP might:
- prescribe stronger painkillers
- prescribe antibiotics if they think you have an infection
- refer you for physiotherapy
- refer you to a hospital for a scan or specialist treatment, for example steroid injections or surgery
Lots of things can cause joint pain. Common causes include a sprain or strain, bursitis or longer-lasting problems like arthritis.
Joint pain can affect any of your joints, including knees, hips and toes. You might feel pain in 1 joint or more than 1 joint at the same time.
To ease joint pain, it can help to rest your joints if you can and take painkillers, like paracetamol. Try not to completely stop moving the joint.
Treatment for joint pain depends on the cause. A GP may recommend strong painkillers and physiotherapy. They might refer you to a specialist.
Related links
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