This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, contact routes and treatment arrangements may differ in other countries.
Types of joint pain
Common types of joint pain include:
- knee pain
- shoulder pain
- hip pain
- foot pain, including your ankle and toes
- hand pain, including your wrist and fingers
- elbow and arm pain
- neck pain
You might feel pain in one joint, or more than one joint at the same time, such as your knees and hips.
See a GP if:
- joint pain is stopping you doing normal activities or affecting your sleep
- the pain or swelling is getting worse or keeps coming back
- the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
- your joints are stiff for more than 30 minutes after waking up
- your child has joint problems
Refer yourself for back or joint help
In many areas you may be able to get help, such as physiotherapy, from NHS community musculoskeletal (MSK) services without needing a referral from a GP.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have joint pain and the skin around it is swollen and feels hot
- you have joint pain and feel generally unwell, have a high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .
Go to A&E or call 999 if:
- you have very bad joint pain after a fall or injury
- you're unable to walk or put weight on a joint
- your joint has moved out of place
- you have any tingling or you have no feeling in the area around the joint after an injury
How you can ease joint pain
There are some things you can do to ease joint pain.
Do
try to rest the affected joint if you can
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
speak to a pharmacist or GP about which painkiller to take for your joint pain
try to lose weight if you're overweight
eat a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regularly
Don't
do not completely stop moving the affected joint
do not smoke
Treatments for joint pain
Treatment for joint pain depends on what's causing it. Sometimes the pain may go away without treatment.
Treatment can include:
- strong painkillers
- antibiotics if you have an infection
- physiotherapy
- steroid injections
- referral to a hospital for an X-ray, scan or specialist treatment (such as surgery)
- advice about making lifestyle changes, such as doing more exercise
Joint pain
Joint pain
Joint pain
Joint pain
Joint pain can affect any of your joints, including knees, hips and toes. You might feel pain in one joint or more than one joint at the same time.
To ease joint pain, it can help to rest your joints if you can and take painkillers, like paracetamol. Try not to completely stop moving the joint.
Treatment for joint pain depends on the cause. A GP may recommend strong painkillers and physiotherapy. They may refer you to a specialist.
Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗
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