What causes joint pain?

Joint pain has many potential causes; everything from various forms of arthritis to a viral infection can cause inflamed, painful joints. 

Some arthritis-related conditions and types of arthritis that cause painful joints include: 

• Osteoarthritis
• Gout arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)
• Fibromyalgia
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Reactive arthritis
• Sjogrens syndrome
• Septic arthritis

Connective tissue disorders that cause joint pain:

• Lupus SLE
• Scleroderma
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Other conditions that could be causing your joint pain:

• Rheumatic fever (requires urgent medical attention)
• Viral infections such as flu and COVID-19
• Leukaemia and some other forms of cancer
• Sprains or strains
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Overuse of a joint or being overweight can cause joint pain
• Depression
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Bone diseases
• Menopause
• Mechanical pain
• Degenerative soft tissue pain
• Referred pain
• Medication side effects
• Vitamin D deficiency

• Joint pain is stopping you from doing normal activities or affecting your sleep
• The pain 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

If your pain comes with fever that lasts more than a week, you have night sweats, weight loss or you’re feeling generally very unwell, you should make an appointment to see your health professional.

Clinically reviewed by Dr Emma Dunning, Healthify He Puna Waiora, September 2025.