Is there a difference between joint pain and arthritis?

Joint pain vs arthritis

Many tend to use the terms joint pain and arthritis interchangeably. There is confusion among common people regarding their actual meaning. But, technically, there is a lot of difference between joint pain and arthritis. While joint pain can be a manifestation of arthritis, it is not the same as arthritis.

Read on to better understand these two terms, define your condition, and learn more about joint pain relief and arthritis pain relief.

Are arthritis and joint pain the same?

Technically, no. There is a significant difference between joint pain and arthritis. Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that causes your joints to become red and swollen, which causes pain. Arthritis is characterised by underlying inflammation in the soft tissue called cartilage that lines your joints.

Arthritis can be of several types—degenerative or osteoarthritis, inflammatory or rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, and metabolic arthritis. On the other hand, joint pain is an acute condition where you feel pain in a joint after it has been in use for a very long time, say, after a vigorous activity, accident, or fever. Though joint pain is a symptom of arthritis, not all forms of joint pain qualify as arthritis.

As you age, your cartilage/soft tissues that line the joints wear down and start to age. The condition is marked with mild pain in the joints, with gradual progression to chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling of joints. If left untreated, the degeneration of joints may continue and worsen with time. Knowing the difference between joint pain and arthritis and taking conscious measures provides relief from joint pain and arthritis.

​The Three Most Common Types of Arthritis | Diagnosis – FAQ about Arthritis​

Read below to understand the causes of joint pain and understand the difference between joint pain and arthritis and the potential techniques for relief from joint pain and arthritis.

Causes of arthritis vs causes of joint pain

Just like there is a difference in the definition of joint pain and arthritis, there can be differences in their causes too.

If you have been experiencing pain in your joints recently, the following can help you know if it is simply joint pain or an underlying condition such as arthritis.

If you have sudden joint pain following a vigorous workout or activity, chances are it is just simple joint pain and can be relieved by topical ointments.

If you experience sudden joint pain following an accident, it could be because of sudden shock. This type of joint pain can be a little intimidating as it can lead to joint degeneration and arthritis in the future.

If you have dengue or COVID-19, or any other fever, chances are you will experience joint pain for a few weeks until your fever subsides.

Contrary to a normal joint pain, arthritis is a chronic condition that is caused as result of underlying diseases like diabetes, obesity, infections, old age or autoimmune disorders and may not respond to medication. Some of the common causes of arthritis are:

Common causes of arthritis

1. Old age: As you age, and due to continuous friction between the joints, the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones within the joints wears down, resulting in the erosion or damage of the cartilage. The protective cartilage helps prevent shocks, reduce friction, and enable movement.
2. Excess body weight: If you are overweight, your joints have to work extra to perform any function like walking, lifting weights, reaching for a distance, etc. This may put your joints in a state of wear and tear and lead to inflammation and pain.
3. Autoimmune condition: A type of arthritis called rheumatoid arthritis is caused by your immune cells attacking your body. This leads to a buildup of uric acid in your joints and may affect other parts of the body like the eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys, nervous tissues, etc.
4. Micro-organisms: Sometimes, arthritis can be caused by bacteria and viruses too. The most common of these is Staphylococcus aureus (staph), a bacterium that lives on healthy skin. Infectious arthritis can be caused by a fungus as well.

Whatever the cause may be, knowing the difference between joint pain and arthritis and getting relief from them is the ultimate aim.

Some other causes of joint pain that can be due to serious underlying issues are:

• Sprain which occurs from minor injuries caused by accidents
• Hypothyroidism which is when the thyroid gland fails to produce the required levels of thyroid hormone
• Fibromyalgia, a generalised muscle soreness accompanied by sleep, fatigue and mood issues
• Bone cancer or osteosarcoma (a common form)
• Spondylitis, an inflammatory disease which can lead to fused bones in the vertebrae
• Chronic muscular disorders or myopathies that lead to muscle weakness and inflammation
• Lyme disease, a vector-borne, bacterial infection spread through ticks
• Leukaemia or blood cancer caused by the increase in white blood cells
• Bursitis caused by inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushions the joints and bones
• Rheumatic fever, an inflammatory condition that can result from strep throat when it hasn’t been treated properly
• Rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency in children