Illnesses That Cause Joint Pain

There are at least 699 reasons why your joints might hurt or feel stiff, according to WrongDiagnosis.com. Aside from injuries and falls, illness is the biggest cause of joint pain. If you know what illness might be causing the pain, you can find out whether it requires medical treatment and whether it will subside.

Infections

• Infections cause joint pain

  Either viral or bacterial infections can cause joint pain. That's why a bout of flu or a common cold can make you feel achy all over. In fact, general body aches are often the first indication of an infection. When the infection passes, so does the pain.

Autoimmune Diseases

• Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are both autoimmune diseases that affect joints. These diseases increase inflammation, which causes pain. According to the book Body Signs, an insufficient amount of synovial fluid, which lubricates joints, limits movement and increases pain. The pain may come and go, but it will not subside permanently without treatment.

Rheumatic Fever

• Rheumatic fever is a complication of strep throat that causes inflammation and thus can cause sore knees (the body's largest joints), ankles, elbows or wrists. According to the Mayo Clinic, these areas can feel tender to the touch and generally painful.

Other Diseases

• Lyme disease causes intermittent or continuous muscle and joint pain. Without treatment with antibiotics, this illness can worsen and lead to severe joint pain and the development of arthritis. Sometimes hepatitis C causes pain in hands, ankles and wrists. Gout can also cause toe and foot pain.

Considerations

• See a doctor if joint pain is associated with a fever and there is no apparent acute illness. Joint pain that continues for more than three days requires attention from a medical professional. Sudden unplanned weight loss that accompanies joint pain may call for medical consultation as well.