What To Know about Arthralgia, or Joint Pain Due to Another Condition

Arthralgia is the medical term for joint pain and soreness. You might experience arthralgia in any of your body's joints, including the knees, hips, ankles, feet, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands. It's easy to confuse arthralgia with arthritis, but it's worth noting that arthralgia is an individual symptom, whereas arthritis is a health condition that occurs due to joint pain and inflammation.

If you are experiencing arthralgia, it's common to experience accompanying symptoms like sharp or dull pains or stabbing, throbbing, aching, and burning sensations. There are several causes of arthralgia, but the most common reasons include aging, injury, overuse, infections, and underlying health conditions.

Joint pain is common as you age, but those who are most likely to experience arthralgia are people over the age of 40. Fortunately, there are several treatment options for arthralgia which may include lifestyle modifications, medications, or physical therapy.

Symptoms

Arthralgia can range from mild to severe severe soreness, tenderness, aching, burning, or throbbing. Depending on the cause, symptoms may come and go or be persistent and ongoing. Along with joint pain, people with arthralgia may experience the following symptoms:

• Joint stiffness: The affected joint may feel stiff, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
• Limited range of motion: Simple activities like walking or bending your elbow may become more difficult, depending on which joints are affected.
• Warmth or redness: The skin around the painful joint may appear red and feel warm when touched.
• Swelling: The affected joint may swell, making the surrounding area visibly larger or puffy.
  

Other symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, or a skin rash, can sometimes accompany arthralgia. These symptoms often indicate an underlying condition, such as an infection or autoimmune disease.

Causes

Arthralgia has many possible causes, but the leading cause of joint pain is arthritis. There are over 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and metabolic arthritis (gout). Other causes of arthralgia include:

• Injuries: Sprains, strains, and fractures of the affected joint or surrounding tissues
• Overuse: Joint overuse or overexertion can also cause pain and stiffness
• Infections: Viral or bacterial infections sometimes lead to pain in the joints
• Autoimmune diseases: Conditions that cause inflammation throughout the body, such as lupus or Sjogren's syndrome, are associated with joint pain
• Allergic reactions: Overactive immune responses (allergic reactions) to certain foods or medicines can sometimes cause arthralgia
• Aging: Degenerative diseases and normal "wear and tear" as you age make joint pain common among older adults
• Environmental factors: Weather changes can sometimes trigger joint pain or weakness in older adults

Risk Factors 

Anyone can experience arthralgia, but the following factors can increase your risk of joint pain:

• Being over the age of 40 or being assigned female at birth
• Having a family history of arthritis or joint pain
• Living with obesity
• Experiencing previous injuries or surgeries in or around your joints
• Using your joints too often, such as by participating in repetitive, high-impact activities or occupations that require bending or squatting
• Smoking tobacco
• Not participating in physical activity or stretching
  

Diagnosis

Because arthralgia is usually a sign of an underlying condition, the diagnostic process focuses on getting to the bottom of what's causing joint pain. To provide an accurate diagnosis, your healthcare provider will review your medical history, including medical conditions, recent injuries or infections, and medications you are taking. They will also ask about your symptoms—including when they started, how often you experience them, and how severe they are.

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam to look for signs of inflammation in your joints, such as swelling, redness, and warmth. They will also test the range of motion (mobility) in your joints. If the cause of your pain remains unclear, your healthcare provider may order additional tests to establish an accurate diagnosis. These tests may include:

• Blood tests: Including a complete blood count (CBC) and antibody tests to check for markers of inflammation and infection
• Imaging tests: X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds create detailed images of the joints to look for damage or abnormalities to the joints, bones, muscles, and soft tissues
• Arthrocentesis: Joint aspiration (arthrocentesis) involves removing a small sample of fluid from the affected joint for analysis in the lab

Treatment

The goal of treatment for arthralgia is to reduce pain, improve joint function, and prevent joint damage. Treatment options vary and will depend on the underlying cause of your arthralgia, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health. Your healthcare provider may recommend at-home remedies, medications, physical therapy, or surgery.

At-Home Treatments

Certain at-home remedies or lifestyle changes can improve joint pain: 

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers: Pain relievers such as Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), or Tylenol (acetaminophen) may help reduce pain and inflammation in the affected joint(s).
• Heat and cold therapy: Applying ice or heat to the affected joints may help reduce swelling and pain. Cold compresses help reduce inflammation and slow nerve pain signals to the brain. Heat (such as a heating pad) increases blood flow and relaxes muscles to promote healing. 
• Topical NSAIDs: Creams, gels, and patches containing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) applied directly to the skin over the affected joint may offer temporary pain relief. Examples include Voltaren (diclofenac sodium 1%) and Pennsaid (diclofenac sodium 2% liquid).

Prescription Medications

If an underlying condition is causing arthralgia, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to manage symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and improve joint function. Your provider may recommend the following medicines:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce joint pain and inflammation
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to suppress an overactive immune system and prevent joint damage
• Biologic response modifiers (biologics) that target the immune system to reduce inflammation
• Corticosteroids, which are anti-inflammatory drugs that help relieve pain and inflammation
• Antibiotics can improve bacterial infection symptoms and antiviral medicines improve viral illnesses, if your joint pain is a result of either infection

Physical Therapy 

Physical therapy can be helpful for people recovering from a joint injury or living with chronic joint pain. Your physical therapist will design an exercise and rehabilitation program tailored to your needs. Physical therapy offers targeted exercises to:

• Strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected joint
• Improve the joint's range of motion, flexibility, and stability
• Reduce pain
• Prevent further joint damage

Physical therapy can help you regain mobility in your joint(s), which may help you better carry out your daily activities and improve your overall quality of life.

Surgery 

When other treatments are ineffective or the affected joint is severely damaged, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. The type of surgical procedure you have depends on the extent of joint injury or damage and your overall health. Common surgical procedures for arthralgia include arthroscopy, joint replacement, and fusion surgery.

How to Prevent Arthralgia 

Being proactive about your joint health by making healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce your risk of arthralgia or joint pain flare-ups, especially as you age. The following tips may help you prevent joint pain:

• Prioritize sleep: Aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to support your body's healing and recovery.
• Stay active: Regular exercise or physical activity helps keep joints flexible and strengthens the surrounding muscles. Low-impact exercises like swimming or walking are gentle on the joints.
• Eat a balanced diet: A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and fatty fish, can help reduce the risk of arthralgia.
• Protect your joints: When engaging in physical activities or work-related tasks that stress the joints, wear the right equipment or use assistive devices to protect your joints, such as braces or knee pads.
• Avoid smoking: Smoking increases the risk of joint damage and inflammation.

Complications 

If arthralgia or an underlying condition causing joint pain is left untreated, complications can develop. Untreated joint pain, especially when caused by inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, can damage the joints and lead to complications such as:

• Chronic pain
• Joint deformities
• Loss of function in the affected joints
• Difficulty performing everyday activities
• Depression

A Quick Review

Arthralgia (joint pain) has many possible causes, including injury, infection, joint overuse, and underlying conditions like arthritis. Joint pain can occur in anyone but starts becoming increasingly common among people over the age of 40. Symptoms of arthralgia may include pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited range of motion in the affected joint. 

Treatment for arthralgia depends on the underlying cause. Mild arthralgia may improve with rest, time, and lifestyle modifications. Moderate to severe joint pain caused by underlying conditions may require treatments like prescription medications and physical therapy. If you experience severe joint pain, surgery may be needed. It's best to see a healthcare provider if you have joint pain, as getting started on treatment early can relieve pain, prevent complications, and improve your quality of life.