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Joint pain

Overview

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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.

Lots of things can cause joint pain. Common causes include a sprain or strain, bursitis or longer-lasting problems like arthritis.

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.

Joint pain is common. There are things you can do to ease the pain, but get help if your joints are very painful or the pain does not get better.

Page last reviewed: 03/05/2022
Next review due: 03/05/2025