Joint pain is a very common problem with many possible causes but it's usually a result of injury or arthritis.

In older people, joint pain that gets steadily worse is usually a sign of osteoarthritis. It may affect just one joint, or many. See your GP if you      have persistent symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The information and advice on this page shouldn't be used to self-diagnose your problem, but may give you a better idea of what's causing your pain.

Pain in just one joint

Knee pain

The knee joint is probably the most frequently damaged joint and is particularly vulnerable as it takes the full weight of your body.

However, knee pain isn't always a joint problem. Learn about the most common causes of knee pain and what you should do.

Inflammation of the joint lining

If you've injured the joint recently and it suddenly becomes painful again, the  thin layer of tissue lining the joints and tendons may be inflamed – a condition called traumatic synovitis. It usually doesn't cause any redness or heat.

You should be able to manage injury-related swelling at home with anti-inflammatories, an icepack and rest.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis (such as tennis elbow) is when a tendon swells up and becomes painful after a tendon injury. You can treat mild tendon    injuries yourself and should feel better within 2 to 3 weeks.

How to treat tendonitis yourself

Follow the 4 steps known as RICE therapy for 2 to 3 days to help bring down swelling and support the injury:

1. Rest – stop the exercise or activities that caused the injury until you feel better
2. Ice – put an ice pack (you could use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
3. Compress – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it
4. Elevate – if possible, keep the injured area raised on a pillow when sitting or lying down                                                                                                                                                                             ​

• To help prevent swelling during the first 2 to 3 days, try to avoid:​​
• heat, such as hot baths and heat packs
• alcohol
• massages

When you can move the injured area without pain stopping you, try to keep moving it so the tendon doesn't become stiff.

Check if it's tendonitis

There are tendons all over your body. They connect your muscles to bones,      for example in your knees, elbows and shoulders.

The main symptoms of tendonitis are:

• pain in a tendon (for example, in your knee, elbow or shoulder) which    gets worse when you move
• ​difficulty moving the tendon
• feeling a grating or crackling sensation when you move the tendon
• swelling, sometimes with heat or redness
• a lump along the tendon

There are many different types of tendonitis, depending on which area of the body is affected.

Go to a minor Injuries Unit if:

• your symptoms don't improve within a few weeks
• you're in a lot of pain
• you think you've ruptured (torn) a tendon

A ruptured tendon usually causes sudden and severe pain. You might hear a popping or snapping sound during the injury.

Treatment from a GP

                                                                                                                  Your doctor may prescribe a stronger painkiller or cream or gel to bring down the swelling.

You may be referred to hospital for a scan if your doctor thinks you could have another injury, such as a broken bone.

Some people with long-term or severe tendonitis may be offered:

• steroid injections – which may provide short-term pain relief
• surgery – to remove damaged tissue or repair a ruptured tendon
• shockwave therapy – which may help speed up healing
• platelet rich plasma injections (PRP) – which may help speed up healing

Physiotherapy

If your condition does not improve it is advisable to see a physiotherapy.

You can't always prevent tendonitis

Tendonitis is most often caused by sudden, sharp movements or repetitive exercise, such as running, jumping or throwing.

To help reduce your risk of tendon injuries:

 Do

• warm up before exercising and stretch afterwards
• wear suitable shoes for exercise
• take regular breaks from repetitive exercises

 Don't

• do not over use tired muscles
• do not start a new sport without some training or practice
• do not stick to the same repetitive exercises

Tendonitis can also be caused by repetitive movements or having poor posture at work. For example, when using a keyboard and mouse. This is known as repetitive strain injury (RSI).

We had physiotherapists who can treat your tendon and joint problems here at The Chorley Clinic