How to Find Relief from Common Causes of Joint Pain
April 29, 2025
Stiff fingers, creaking knees – joint pain is a common problem that can take many forms and affect people of all ages. Unaddressed, it can make work, play and even sleep difficult.
There are many options to treat and manage the sources of joint pain. In this article, Gregg R. Klein, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement at Hackensack University Medical Center, provides insight into the causes of joint pain, tips to prevent it and treatment options.
What Does Joint Pain Feel Like?
The symptoms of joint pain can vary depending on the underlying cause. However, common symptoms include:
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Redness and/or warmth at the site of pain
- Difficulty moving the joint
Causes of Joint Pain
Many root causes of joint pain stem from joint overuse and injury. Other causes of joint pain include:
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Certain medications
- Trauma
Arthritis is the most common cause of joint pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis, all of which cause joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis, the most common type, causes the padding between joints to wear down increasingly over time. Rheumatoid arthritis, a form of inflammatory arthritis, causes the body’s immune system to attack the lining of the joints.
Diagnosing Joint Pain
Your primary health care provider or an orthopedic specialist can help you identify the cause of your joint pain. They will discuss your symptoms and medical history and conduct a physical exam. They may also order imaging (like X-rays or MRIs). Once they know why your joints hurt, they can decide how to ease your joint aches and pains.
Joint Pain Treatments
“Your treatment will vary depending on the cause and intensity of your joint pain,” Dr. Klein notes. “For instance, pain caused by an inflammatory or autoimmune disease can require medication, while other causes of joint pain have at-home solutions.”
“No matter the root cause of joint pain, physical therapy is a standard treatment option to strengthen and protect joints from further damage,” says Dr. Klein. Other treatment options include:
Non-Surgical Treatments for Joint Pain
- Medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can help reduce pain and swelling. Additional options include prescription medications, such as inflammation-fighting steroids and drugs that modify your immune system.
- Exercise and physical therapy: Regular exercise can prevent joint pain by strengthening the muscles around joints and improving flexibility. Physical therapy has many of the same benefits and promotes recovery after a joint replacement.
- Injections: Injectable steroids or hyaluronic acid, a natural lubricant found in joints, can reduce pain and inflammation.
- Weight loss: Losing weight can help some people reduce the stress on their joints and ease their pain.
Surgical Treatments for Joint Pain
In some cases, surgery provides the best relief for joint pain. Your provider will usually only consider surgery after you’ve tried non-surgical treatments. The surgical treatment for arthritic joint disease is joint replacement,in which an artificial joint made of metal and plastic is used to replace the damaged one.
Everyday Tips for Managing Joint Pain
Living with joint pain can be challenging, but Dr. Klein says there are several things you can do to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life, such as:
- Staying active: Regular activity supports joints by keeping them strong and protects against stiffness by preserving range of motion.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Minimizing excess weight keeps additional stress off your joints.
- Using assistive devices: Canes or walkers can help you move with less pain.
- Managing stress: Stress can worsen joint pain, so reducing or managing it has positive ripple effects on pain.
- Getting enough sleep: Blood flow and certain hormones that promote tissue recovery increase during sleep, but you won’t get their benefit with too little rest.
Joint pain is a common problem that, unfortunately, becomes more likely as we age. But there are ways to prevent pain, manage symptoms and find relief. If you are experiencing joint pain, speak to a health care provider to get a diagnosis and discuss which treatment options are best for you.
Next Steps and Resources:
- Meet our source: Gregg R. Klein, M.D.
- Make an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon or call 800-822-8905.
- Learn more about orthopedics at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
