Beyond Arthritis: 5 Lesser-Known Causes of Joint Pain

Joint pain is an aching, stiff, or sharp discomfort you feel in any area where two bones meet, such as your knees, hips, shoulders, wrists, ankles, and fingers. It can range from annoying to completely debilitating, and it can affect every aspect of your daily life. 

Something as simple as climbing stairs, opening a jar, or getting out of bed in the morning can become challenging when you live with joint pain.

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of joint pain worldwide, affecting millions of people across all age groups. It’s so common that many people, especially those over a certain age, assume that any joint pain they’re experiencing must be arthritis. 

But there are lesser-known causes of joint pain that can closely mimic arthritis. That’s why identifying the underlying cause of your pain is crucial. 

To get it right, you need to work with expert pain specialists who have the experience and diagnostic tools to figure out what’s causing your pain and put together the most effective treatment plan for you.

If you’re dealing with persistent joint pain that doesn’t seem to respond to typical treatments, turn to us at SEPA Pain & Spine in southeastern Pennsylvania. Our team is dedicated to getting to the bottom of your pain and providing effective care. 

Here, we take a look at five lesser-known causes of joint pain that could be the reason you’re hurting.

Bursitis

Your joints contain small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae. Their job is to cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles around your joints so everything moves smoothly. When those sacs become inflamed, the result is bursitis, and it can cause significant pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected area.

Bursitis tends to show up most often in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees — essentially the joints you use the most or put the most pressure on. Common triggers are repetitive motions, prolonged pressure on a joint (like kneeling for extended periods), or even a sudden injury. 

Tendinitis

Your tendons are the thick, fibrous cords that connect your muscles to your bones. When they become irritated or inflamed, the pain can feel like it’s coming directly from the joint. This is especially true in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and knees, where tendons run close to the joint line.

Tendinitis is usually the result of repetitive movements or overuse. If you play sports, work a physically demanding job, or spend a lot of time doing the same motions at a desk, you’re at risk. 

The pain from tendinitis tends to be a dull ache that gets worse with movement, and the area around the affected tendon might feel tender to the touch or slightly swollen. 

Lupus and autoimmune conditions

Lupus is a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, and the joints are one of the most common targets. The joint pain that comes with lupus can be widespread, affecting multiple joints at once, and it often comes with swelling, stiffness, and fatigue.

What makes lupus-related joint pain especially challenging is that it can come and go in unpredictable flares. You might feel fine for weeks and then suddenly experience intense pain and swelling. 

Other autoimmune conditions like psoriatic arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and certain thyroid disorders can also cause joint pain. 

Gout

Technically a type of inflammatory arthritis, gout occurs when uric acid builds up in the blood and forms sharp, needle-like crystals that deposit in the joints. The result is sudden, intense episodes of pain that can be excruciating. 

The big toe is the most common place for gout to develop, but it can also affect the ankles, knees, wrists, and fingers. A gout flare-up typically comes on fast, sometimes overnight, and the affected joint becomes red, hot, swollen, and extremely tender. 

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that’s often misunderstood and underdiagnosed, and it can cause pain that feels like it’s centered in the joints. 

People with fibromyalgia experience widespread musculoskeletal pain. Because it often concentrates around joints and tender points throughout the body, it’s not unusual for people to confuse it with arthritis, especially in the early stages before a proper diagnosis is made.

Guessing or self-diagnosing isn’t the way to go when your joints are hurting. What works for arthritis might do nothing for bursitis, tendinitis, or other causes of joint pain. 

The only way to get on the right path is to work with our team of pain specialists, who can properly evaluate your symptoms, run the appropriate tests, and arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

At SEPA Pain and Spine, that’s exactly what you get. Call us today to schedule a consultation at any of our offices in Horsham, Langhorne, Meadowbrook, Chalfont, East Norriton, or Limerick in southeastern Pennsylvania. You can also request one online here.