What Are the Causes of Chronic Joint Pain?

Joint pain can range from moderate to being severe enough to be debilitating. Although arthritis is frequently the cause of chronic joint pain, the symptom can be the result of other factors including bursitis or a soft-tissue injury. Identifying what is causing the pain is the first step toward successful treatment. The problem is that joint pain can be a symptom of many different medical conditions; therefore, a thorough medical evaluation is needed to determine the cause.

Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain. This is a degenerative condition in which cartilage in the joints wears out, causing bones to rub against each other. People with arthritis experience swelling and pain in their joints. Researchers at the University of North Carolina found that a having a family history of osteoarthritis increases the risk for having the condition after age 40. The study also found that women and men who are obese are at greater risk for suffering joint pain associated with osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, which is more common among women, affects the body's immune system. Inflammation is responsible for deteriorating the joints, causing pain and stiffness.

Obesity

• Carrying around extra weight puts added strain on muscles and joints. Losing even a few pounds can help. The medical community has long linked obesity with contributing to joint-related pain. The American Obesity Association reports that a common problem among obese individuals is suffering chronic joint pain as every pound of excess fat strains the body's muscles and joints. Studies show that losing weight can reduce chronic knee pain. For every pound you lose, you are removing 4 lbs. from across the knees. Watching your weight can also help prevent osteoarthritis in your hips and knees.

Too Much Exercise

• Exercising too often or too hard, especially if you do not warm up and stretch before your workout, can cause painful joints. You should still exercise, but allow your body time to recover between workouts. Warm up before intense, high-impact aerobic exercise. Any activity that has a jarring effect on the joints can cause pain. Yoga and swimming are low-impact exercises. According to the American Council on Exercise, staying active improves your range of motion, which can help reduce joint pain.

Osteoporosis

• Osteoporosis weakens bones, which can cause pain in the joints that connect the bones. Although osteoporosis is a condition affecting the bones, it is more likely to cause joint pain than bone pain. An exception is the pain associated with a bone fracture caused by the loss of bone mass. Osteoporosis makes bones more brittle, and therefore, they can break more easily from a fall or even from lifting something.

Fibromyalgia

• Fibromyalgia Syndrome is typically characterized by generalized pain throughout the muscles and joints. The pain is chronic and widespread. While doctors and researchers continue to speculate on the causes, the pain appears to increase or decrease in intensity because of changes in the climate, levels of fatigue, the amount of physical activity, stress and hormonal fluctuations. Some people only suffer mild pain and are able to function despite the discomfort, whereas for others fibromyalgia pain is so severe that it causes disability.

Lupus

• Chronic joint and muscle pain and swelling are often the most common symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder. Pain is usually one of the first symptoms of the disease. While the cause is unknown, genetic and environmental factors cannot be discounted. Most people with lupus develop arthritis and suffer joint pain. Joints in the knees, fingers, hands and wrists are almost always affected. Diagnosis can be difficult because the disease often presents itself with muscle and joint pain and other flu-like symptoms.