Arthralgia

Arthralgia is pain in one or more joints. It is a common symptom that may occur with or without objective joint inflammation. When joint swelling, warmth, or redness is absent or mild, clinicians often differentiate arthralgia from arthritis, which denotes joint inflammation. Arthralgia can be acute or chronic and may affect a single joint or multiple joints.

Causes are diverse and include mechanical factors (injury, overuse, osteoarthritis, meniscal pathology); inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis); crystal arthropathies (gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition); infections (viral or bacterial); as well as certain medications or exposures. Often no single cause is identified.

Patients describe joint pain as aching, soreness, or sharp discomfort. Pain may be worsened by movement or weight bearing and may be accompanied by stiffness, limited range of motion, or tenderness near a joint. Absence of swelling does not exclude inflammatory or autoimmune causes; associated systemic symptoms such as fever, rash, or fatigue may point toward infection or systemic disease.

Evaluation includes medical history, physical examination, and selective tests guided by the clinical context. Basic labs may include inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) and joint-specific tests. Imaging (X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI) is used to assess structural changes or effusion. When infection, crystalline disease, or autoimmune disease is suspected, specific tests or referral to rheumatology may be needed.

Treatment targets the underlying cause and may include analgesics such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, topical agents, physical therapy, and activity modification. Inflammatory or autoimmune conditions may require disease-modifying therapies. Most episodes are self-limiting, but chronic arthralgia can persist and requires ongoing management. Red flags include fever, joint swelling with warmth, inability to bear weight, or rapidly progressive joint damage, which warrant urgent evaluation.