Joint pain

Joint pain is discomfort, aching or soreness arising from a joint or the ligaments, tendons and bursae around it, affecting one joint or many.

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause in adults, followed by injuries such as sprains and strains, inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, gout, bursitis, tendinitis and infections. Pain from wear tends to worsen with use and improve with rest, whereas inflammatory pain is often worse in the morning and accompanied by swelling and warmth. The knees, hips, hands, shoulders and spine are most frequently involved.

Evaluation includes examination of the joint's range of motion and stability, X-rays or MRI, and blood tests or joint fluid analysis when inflammation or infection is suspected. Management depends on cause and ranges from exercise and physical therapy to medication, injections and surgery. Cannabidiol research on joint pain is concentrated in arthritis studies, with mixed results across topical and oral routes.