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Joint Pain: Many Joints

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2023
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Joints are places in your body where two bones come together, such as your wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.

Joints also exist where you might not think, such as between the many bones in your feet, hands, pelvis, and spine.

  • Severe pain in more than one joint (often more than 5) is usually caused by a long-term joint disorder

  • Some diseases that cause joint pain may also cause rash, fever, eye pain, or mouth sores

What causes pain in many joints?

Pain in many joints is usually caused by:

  • Arthritis

Arthritis is joint inflammation that causes swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. The causes of the arthritis are different depending on whether the joints started hurting suddenly (acutely) or have been hurting for a long time (chronic).

Sudden (acute) arthritis in more than one joint is most often caused by:

Less common causes include:

Chronic arthritis in more than one joint is caused by:

The most common disorders outside the joints that cause pain around the joints include:

When should I see a doctor for pain in many joints?

See a doctor right away if you have joint pain in more than one joint and these warning signs:

  • Joint swelling, warmth, and redness

  • New skin rashes, spots, or purple blotches

  • Sores in your mouth, nose, or on your genitals

  • Chest pain, trouble breathing, or new or severe cough

  • Pain in your belly

  • Fever, sweats, or chills

  • Eye redness or pain

Call a doctor if you have joint pain in many joints but no warning signs.

What will happen at my doctor’s visit?

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history and do a physical exam.

Certain symptoms can help the doctor decide what is causing your joint pain. These symptoms include whether the pain:

  • Is in the same joint on both sides of your body (for example, both knees or both hands)

  • Moves from joint to joint

  • Is in your spine and/or pelvis

Doctors may do tests such as:

How do doctors treat pain in many joints?

Doctors may also treat your joint pain with:

Exercise (such as walking or riding a bike) helps keep the joints loose and your muscles strong if you have long-term arthritis.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
7T Gummy ES, Acephen, Aceta, Actamin, Adult Pain Relief, Anacin Aspirin Free, Aphen, Apra, Children's Acetaminophen, Children's Pain & Fever , Children's Pain Relief, Comtrex Sore Throat Relief, ED-APAP, ElixSure Fever/Pain, Feverall, Genapap, Genebs, Goody's Back & Body Pain, Infantaire, Infants' Acetaminophen, LIQUID PAIN RELIEF, Little Fevers, Little Remedies Infant Fever + Pain Reliever, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Infants, Mapap Junior, M-PAP, Nortemp, Ofirmev, Pain & Fever , Pain and Fever , PAIN RELIEF , PAIN RELIEF Extra Strength, Panadol, PediaCare Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Children's Smooth Metls Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infant's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pediaphen, PHARBETOL, Plus PHARMA, Q-Pap, Q-Pap Extra Strength, Silapap, Triaminic Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol 8 Hour Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8 Hour Muscle Aches & Pain, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Children's, Tylenol Children's Pain+Fever, Tylenol CrushableTablet, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Infants', Tylenol Infants Pain + Fever, Tylenol Junior Strength, Tylenol Pain + Fever, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat, XS No Aspirin, XS Pain Reliever
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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