Many injuries, diseases and conditions can cause joint pain. They include:

• Unusual activity or overuse, including strains and sprains.
  
  
• Common infectious diseases. Conditions such as colds, flu and fifth disease (a viral condition that affects children) can cause muscle pain (myalgia) and joint pain.
  
  
• Wounds and trauma, such as fractures and whiplash.

• Athletic injuries, such as tennis elbow, golfer elbow and rotator cuff injury.
  
  
• Arthritis. This term is used to describe more than 100 diseases that cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Types of arthritis include:
  
  
• • Osteoarthritis. The most common form of arthritis, sometimes called degenerative joint disease. It may affect any joint and is characterized by a progressive breakdown of joint cartilage and formation of bone at the margins of the joint.
    
    
  • Rheumatoid arthritis. A chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the lining (synovium) of small joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage.
    
    
  • Juvenile arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  Forms of arthritis that affect children.
    
    
  • Ankylosing spondylitis. Type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness and primarily affects the spine, although other joints can be affected.
    
    
  • Gout. Caused by a buildup in the body of excessive uric acid, which forms crystals that deposit in the joints and cause inflammation. It results in sudden and severe attacks of pain and tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling in some joints. It usually affects one joint at a time, often the big toe.
    
    
  • Pseudogout. A disease that in some ways mimics gout but typically is characterized by knee pain.
    
    
  • Psoriatic arthritis. A condition that includes the skin disease psoriasis.
    
    
  • Reiter’s syndrome. A form of infectious arthritis. 

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• Tendinitis. Inflammation, irritation and swelling of a tendon (the fibrous structure that connects muscle to bone) can be caused by injury, overuse or age.
  
  
• Bursitis. Inflammation of the fluid-filled sac (bursa) that lies between a tendon and skin or between a tendon and bone can be caused by chronic overuse, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or infection.
  
  
• TMJ disorder. This condition involves pain where the lower jaw connects with the skull, caused by genetics, trauma, arthritis or other factors.
  
  
• Carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition can cause wrist pain. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist.

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This autoimmune disease causes inflammation of the connective tissue, in particular membranes around joints.
  
   
• Fibromyalgia. This chronic disorder causes diffuse muscle ache, stiffness and fatigue. Patients have tender spots in specific areas on their body in places such as the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms and legs that hurt when pressure is applied.
  
  
• Chronic fatigue syndrome. Pain in multiple joints without swelling or redness is a common symptom.
  
  
• Sjogren’s syndrome. This autoimmune disorder is often associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic conditions and can cause debilitating joint pain.
  
  
• Lyme disease. Joint pain is common in early and late stages of this infectious tick-borne condition.
  
  
• Spinal stenosis. This narrowing of the passage for the spinal cord can cause pain in the back, neck, shoulders, legs and other joints.
  
  
• Osteoporosis. This common bone disorder is usually painless in early stages but may cause severe joint or back pain in late stages because of fractures.
  
  
• Cancer. Bone tumors, leukemia and other cancers can cause joint pain due to metastasis, or spreading of the cancer into the joint.
  
  
• Sickle cell anemia. A hereditary blood disease marked by pain in the joints, bones and elsewhere.
  
  
• Polymyalgia rheumatica. Pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder and hips typify this condition.
  
  
• Sarcoidosis. This inflammatory disease can affect the joints and other body parts.
  
  
• Complex regional pain syndrome. This chronic condition usually affects the arms or legs.
  
  
• Infection of a joint. For example, a joint may be infected during surgery such as arthroplasty.
  
  
• Osteomyelitis. Acute or chronic bone infection is usually caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Meningitis. Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, meningitis is usually caused by infection. It can cause neck pain or stiffness.
  
  
• Encephalitis. Inflammation of the brain. Symptoms can include stiffness or pain in the back or neck.
  
  
• Costochondritis. Inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs and sternum (breastbone), costochondritis is one of the more common causes of noncardiac chest pain.
  
  
• Scleroderma. This chronic disease can cause thickening, hardening or tightening of the skin, blood vessels and internal organs.