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Where does it hurt? What causes joint pain? Pain in several joints Joint pain and menopause What helps joint pain When to see a doctor When to get in-person care Can an online doctor treat joint pain? Joint and muscle conditions How Mobi Doctor works Frequently asked questions Sources
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, for assessment and a treatment plan. Scans, joint injections and hands-on tests happen in person.
- Most common causes: osteoarthritis, strains and overuse, and back and neck problems; less often gout or other inflammatory arthritis.
- What helps first: keeping active, heat for stiffness and, for osteoarthritis of the knee or hand, an anti-inflammatory gel.
- See a doctor: if pain lasts more than two weeks, a joint swells, or stiffness lasts longer than 30 minutes after waking.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for a hot, swollen joint with a fever, or a joint you cannot move or put weight on after an injury.
Call 112 or go to an emergency department if a joint is suddenly hot, red and swollen and you have a fever or feel unwell, if a joint looks deformed or you cannot move it or put weight on it after a fall or injury, or if back pain comes with numbness around your genitals, back passage or inner thighs, new difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, or weakness or numbness in both legs. These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome.
Where does it hurt?
Choose the area that hurts most. Each page covers the usual causes, what helps, and what a doctor can do.
- NeckStiff neck, desk strain, whiplash
- ShoulderRotator cuff, frozen shoulder
- ElbowTennis and golfer’s elbow
- Wrist and handCarpal tunnel, sprains, tendon pain
- Finger and thumb jointsOsteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis
- Ribs and chest wallStrained muscles, costochondritis
- BackStrain, stiffness, sciatica
- HipOsteoarthritis, outer hip pain
- KneeOsteoarthritis, kneecap pain, injuries
- AnkleSprained ankle and other injuries
- Big toeSudden red, hot, swollen joint
- All overAches in many joints at once
What causes joint pain?
Most joint pain comes from osteoarthritis, the wear and repair of a joint that becomes common after 45, or from injury and overuse. Less often it comes from inflammation, as in gout or rheumatoid arthritis. How the pain started, which joints hurt, whether they swell and how long they stay stiff in the morning point a doctor to the cause.
| What you notice | Usual cause | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Aching knee, hip, hand or big toe joints that are worse after use and stiff for under 30 minutes in the morning, usually after 45 | Osteoarthritis | Arthritis |
| Warm, swollen joints, often small joints of the hands or feet, stiff for longer than 30 minutes in the morning | Inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis | Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Sudden, severe pain in one joint, often the big toe, which turns red, hot and swollen within hours | Gout, or a joint infection if you have a fever or feel unwell (call 112) | Gout |
| Pain, swelling or bruising after a twist, a fall or sport | A sprain, strain or other injury | Sports injuries Sprained ankle |
| Pain around the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip or heel that builds up with a movement you repeat often | Tendonitis, bursitis or repetitive strain injury | Tendonitis RSI Bursitis Tennis elbow Plantar fasciitis |
| Low back pain, sometimes with pain, tingling or numbness running down one leg | Back strain, or a slipped disc pressing on a nerve (sciatica) | Back pain Prolapsed disc Sciatica |
| Back pain and stiffness that started before the age of 45, wake you in the second half of the night and ease with movement | Inflammatory back pain, such as ankylosing spondylitis | Ankylosing spondylitis |
| Widespread pain on both sides of the body for three months or more, with tiredness and poor sleep | Fibromyalgia | Fibromyalgia |
| Aching joints and muscles with a fever, cough or sore throat | A viral illness such as flu, which settles as you recover | Flu |
| Aching joints with hot flushes, night sweats or changing periods in your 40s or 50s | Perimenopause or menopause | Menopause |
Pain in several joints, or aching all over
When several joints hurt at once, the cause is often something affecting the whole body rather than wear in one joint. For aches that start suddenly, the usual reasons are a viral illness, overexertion or poor sleep, and they settle within days to weeks.
If the pain lasts, common causes include osteoarthritis in several joints, inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, an underactive thyroid, low vitamin D and perimenopause. Rarer causes include lupus and haemochromatosis (too much iron in the body), an inherited condition that is common in people of Irish and northern European descent. Some medicines play a part too: statins can cause muscle aches, and aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer often cause joint pain. People with psoriasis or inflammatory bowel disease can develop arthritis linked to it.
Joint pain with a fever and a rash during or after a trip to the tropics can be dengue or chikungunya, so get medical advice the same day. Joint pain or swelling weeks or months after a tick bite can be Lyme disease, which a doctor should assess. Depending on the pattern, the doctor may suggest blood tests for inflammation, thyroid function, vitamin D, iron levels, rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies or uric acid.
If your aches do not fit one condition, the musculoskeletal pain page is the place to start.
Joint pain in perimenopause and menopause
Aching, stiff joints are a common and often overlooked symptom of perimenopause and menopause, alongside hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep and changing periods. They often affect the hands, knees, shoulders and hips, and can start years before periods stop.
Regular movement and strength training help. No supplement has been shown to ease menopause joint pain, and vitamin D helps only if your level is low. A doctor checks that the pain is not arthritis or another cause and, if you have other menopause symptoms, discusses treatment, including HRT when it suits you.
Menopause and HRTTake the free perimenopause test
What helps joint pain
For most joint and muscle pain, these steps help while it settles. They are also what a doctor usually suggests first.
- Keep moving Gentle, regular activity eases stiffness, and strengthening exercise is a core treatment for osteoarthritis. After an injury, rest the joint for a day or two, then start moving it again.
- Use heat or cold A warm pack or a warm bath eases stiffness. A cold pack wrapped in a towel, used for short spells, eases the pain of a fresh injury or a hot, swollen flare such as gout.
- Try a gel for osteoarthritis For osteoarthritis of the knee or hand, an anti-inflammatory gel, such as ibuprofen or diclofenac gel, helps many people, with fewer side effects than tablets. In the first days after an injury, anti-inflammatories are best avoided.
- Ease the load If you carry extra weight, even a modest loss takes pressure off knees and hips. Supportive shoes, and spreading demanding tasks through the day, help too.
Cold, damp weather can make stiff joints feel worse. Read why joints can ache more in cold weather.
Which painkillers help joint pain?
Anti-inflammatory tablets such as ibuprofen or naproxen help for short spells at the lowest dose that works. They are not safe for everyone, including people with a stomach ulcer, kidney problems, heart disease or a past stroke, or asthma that anti-inflammatories make worse, people taking blood thinners or some blood pressure medicines, and anyone who is pregnant. Paracetamol makes little difference to osteoarthritis pain, but it is the usual choice in pregnancy and in the first days after an injury, when anti-inflammatories are best avoided. A pharmacist can tell you what suits you. Opioid painkillers such as codeine and tramadol are not prescribed through online consultations, and they rarely help joint pain in the long run.
When should I see a doctor about joint pain?
Book a consultation if:
- pain lasts more than two weeks, or keeps coming back
- a joint is swollen, or stiffness lasts longer than 30 minutes after waking
- several joints hurt at the same time, or you also feel tired or run down
- you are over 50 and have new pain and stiffness in both shoulders or hips
- pain wakes you at night, or stops you working
- you want to know which pain relief is safe with your other medicines or conditions
New joint swelling with pain or stiffness that is not from an injury or a known gout flare should be seen early, ideally by a rheumatologist within six weeks of it starting, because treating inflammatory arthritis early protects the joints.
If tendon pain or swelling starts while you are taking a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, or in the months after a course, stop the antibiotic if you are still taking it, rest the painful area and contact a doctor at once.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a hot, red, swollen joint with a fever or feeling unwell: it can be a joint infection (septic arthritis), which can damage the joint within days
- a joint that looks deformed, or that you cannot move or put weight on after a fall or injury
- back pain with numbness around your genitals, back passage or inner thighs, new difficulty passing urine or loss of bladder or bowel control, or weakness or numbness in both legs
- chest pain that feels like pressure, tightness or heaviness, spreads to your arm, jaw, neck or back, or comes with breathlessness, sweating, nausea or faintness
- a painful, hot, swollen calf, a possible sign of a blood clot
- a fever with a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
- any change in your vision with a new headache, scalp tenderness or jaw pain when chewing, if you are over 50
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a new headache, scalp tenderness or jaw pain when chewing, if you are over 50
- a hot, swollen, painful joint replacement, or a new hot, swollen joint if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, even without a fever
- joint pain with a fever and a new rash, or with a fever during or after a trip to the tropics
- pain that is constant, worse at night and does not ease with rest or a change of position, especially with weight loss or a history of cancer
- a painful, swollen joint in a child, or a child who starts to limp
Can an online doctor treat joint pain?
Yes, for most joint and muscle pain. It is assessed mainly from your story and from watching how you move, and both work by video: the doctor asks how it started, which joints hurt and what makes it worse, looks at the joint on camera and may ask you to move it. Scans, joint injections and examinations that need hands-on testing happen in person, and the doctor tells you when you need them.
What the doctor can do online
The doctor listens, looks at any photos you share and decides with you what helps. If a medicine is the right answer, the doctor prescribes it. If you need an examination, a test or urgent care, the doctor tells you where to go.
- Warning signs checked first Signs of infection, a fracture, a trapped nerve or inflammatory arthritis are checked first, and you are routed to the right care if any is likely.
- The cause, not just the pain Wear, inflammation, injury and overuse need different plans, and the pattern of your pain tells them apart.
- Pain relief that suits you Before suggesting an anti-inflammatory or anything else, the doctor asks about your stomach, kidney and heart health, your blood pressure and your other medicines.
- A plan for what comes next Which exercises to start, how long to give them, and when blood tests, a scan, physiotherapy or a specialist make sense.
Not sure which page fits your pain? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →Joint and muscle conditions
Most of these can be assessed and treated online. Each page covers the symptoms, causes and treatment, and the signs that need in-person care.
By where it hurts
- Back painStrains, stiffness and sciatica, with warning signs checked
- Neck painStiff neck, desk strain and whiplash
- Shoulder painRotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder
- Wrist painCarpal tunnel syndrome, sprains and tendon pain
- Hip painOsteoarthritis and pain over the outer hip
- Knee painOsteoarthritis, kneecap pain and knee injuries
- Sprained ankleTwists and sprains, and the signs that point to a fracture
- Rib cage painChest wall pain, costochondritis and bruised ribs
- Jaw painTMJ disorder: clicking, locking and pain in front of the ear
- Elbow painTennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Heel painPlantar fasciitis: worst with the first steps of the day
- Leg pain from the backSciatica: pain from the bottom down one leg
- Aching all overBody aches and muscle aches, and what they can mean
By condition
- ArthritisOsteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis
- GoutSudden flares, often in the big toe, and preventing the next one
- FibromyalgiaWidespread pain with tiredness and poor sleep
- TendonitisAchilles, elbow and wrist tendon pain
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI)Pain from repeated movements at a desk or at work
- Prolapsed discSlipped disc and sciatica
- Sports injurySprains, strains and overuse injuries
- Musculoskeletal painMuscle and joint pain without an obvious label
- Rheumatoid arthritisSwollen, stiff joints in the hands and feet
- Ankylosing spondylitisBack pain that is worse at night and eases with movement
- LupusJoint pain, tiredness and rashes
- OsteoporosisFragile bones, bone scans and preventing fractures
- BursitisA painful, swollen bursa at the hip, knee, elbow or shoulder
- Carpal tunnel syndromeNumbness and tingling in the hand, often at night
- BunionsA bony lump at the base of the big toe
- Cauda equina syndromeThe back pain emergency and its warning signs
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your joint pain: describe how it started, show the joint on camera and, if asked, move it so the doctor can see how it works.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Frequently asked questions about joint pain
What can I take for joint pain?
For osteoarthritis of the knee or hand, start with an anti-inflammatory gel, such as ibuprofen or diclofenac gel: it helps many people, with fewer side effects than tablets. Anti-inflammatory tablets such as ibuprofen or naproxen help for short spells at the lowest dose that works, but they do not suit people with a stomach ulcer, kidney problems, heart disease or a past stroke, or asthma that anti-inflammatories make worse, people taking blood thinners or some blood pressure medicines, or anyone who is pregnant. In the first days after an injury, paracetamol is the usual choice rather than anti-inflammatories. Opioid painkillers such as codeine and tramadol are not prescribed through online consultations.
How do I stop my joints from aching?
Keep moving: gentle, regular activity and strengthening exercise ease most joint pain over a few weeks. Use heat for stiffness and a wrapped cold pack for a fresh injury or a hot flare, try an anti-inflammatory gel for osteoarthritis of the knee or hand, and lose weight if you carry extra, which takes load off knees and hips. If the aching lasts more than two weeks, keeps coming back or comes with swelling, see a doctor to find the cause.
What can cause joint pain all over the body?
When many joints ache at once and it starts suddenly, a viral illness is the most common cause, and it settles as you recover. If it lasts, common causes include osteoarthritis in several joints, inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, an underactive thyroid, low vitamin D, perimenopause and some medicines. A doctor can tell these apart from your symptoms and, where needed, blood tests.
Why do I have joint pain and tiredness?
Aching joints with tiredness most often follow a viral illness and settle within a few weeks. If both last, common causes include inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, an underactive thyroid, low vitamin D and perimenopause. Haemochromatosis (too much iron in the body), an inherited condition that is common in people of Irish and northern European descent, can cause both too. Lupus is rarer and often comes with a rash or mouth ulcers. A doctor can tell these apart from your symptoms and blood tests.
Can menopause cause joint pain?
Yes. Joint and muscle pain is a recognised symptom of perimenopause and menopause, often in the hands, knees, shoulders and hips, and it can start before periods stop. Staying active and strength training help. A doctor checks for arthritis and other causes and can discuss treatment for your menopause symptoms, including HRT when it suits you.
Do supplements help joint pain?
Mostly not. Glucosamine and chondroitin have not been shown to help most people with osteoarthritis, and vitamin D helps only if your level is low. Fish oil may slightly ease the joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis. Turmeric may slightly ease knee osteoarthritis pain in short studies, but the evidence is weak. Supplements, turmeric included, can interact with medicines such as blood thinners, so tell the doctor or pharmacist what you take.
Should I rest or keep moving with joint pain?
Keep moving. Rest helps for a day or two after an injury, and while a hot flare such as gout settles, but longer rest stiffens joints and weakens the muscles that protect them. Gentle activity, then gradual strengthening, speeds recovery from most joint and muscle pain.
When does joint pain need a scan or blood test?
Most joint pain needs neither. Osteoarthritis with typical symptoms is diagnosed without a scan in people over 45, and scans often show wear that does not explain the pain. Blood tests help when joints swell, several joints hurt or you feel unwell, to look for inflammation, gout or rheumatoid arthritis. An X-ray or scan is needed after a significant injury, when the diagnosis is unclear, or before surgery is considered.
Can an online doctor prescribe treatment for joint pain?
Yes, when treatment is right for you. After a video consultation the doctor can prescribe non-controlled medicines, such as anti-inflammatory gels or tablets or treatment for a gout flare, and you can use the prescription at a pharmacy near you. Opioid painkillers and other controlled medicines are not prescribed through online consultations.
- Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2022.
- 2016 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of early arthritis, Combe B, et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2017.
- Gout: diagnosis and management (NG219), NICE, 2022.
- Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management (NG59), NICE, 2016, updated 2020.
- Menopause: identification and management (NG23), NICE, 2015, updated 2024.
- Disabling and potentially permanent side effects lead to suspension or restrictions of quinolone and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, European Medicines Agency, 2018.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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