Image: Imani Clovis / Unsplash

When someone mentions having widespread joint pain, what do you think of? I usually envision the hands because there are so many joints there. Sometimes the knees come to mind, especially when I see older persons struggling to get around. And I almost always associate joint pain with arthritis. In fact, the pain I’ve felt in and around my joints in my hands has debilitated me a few times in life. I assumed it was some kind of early onset arthritis during my 20s and early 30s. But it turns out, joint pain can actually refer to any discomfort, inflammation, or pain from any part of the joint. The Mayo Clinic says that includes “cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons or muscles. Most commonly, however, joint pain refers to arthritis or arthralgia, which is inflammation or pain from within the joint itself.”

So my assumptions weren’t too far off. Of course, now I know that my joint pain was actually part of my fibromyalgia symptoms. Thankfully, it has only effected my hands from time to time. But for many fibro patients, widespread joint pain can be debilitating. Indeed, most fibro patients suffer from joint pain in one way or another. But a lot of other people deal with this condition, right? So what are the causes of it, how does it effect you, and what should you do about it? We’ll explore some of the basics of this very complex condition.

What Causes Widespread Joint Pain?

One of the reasons joint pain is so complicated is because the causes literally range in the dozens. The Mayo Clinic alphabetically lists about 30 different conditions that lead to joint pain, ranging from Adult Still’s Disease and Dislocated Bones to Lyme Disease and Tendinitis. Although the National Health Service (NHS) of England says that it’s usually the result of injury or arthritis. But what about widespread joint pain? That can’t be from injury, right?

Actually, that is something a bit different. The NHS adds that widespread joint pain can be a sign of a disease that effects other organs in the body as well. For example, in the case autoimmune conditions like lupus, the immune system attacks healthy cells like organs and tissues. Furthermore, there are other less common and even rare conditions that can cause widespread joint pain as well. These include, but are not limited to juvenile arthritis, certain treatments like steroid therapy, and even cancer.

It’s clear there are a lot of variables involved in this condition. But what exactly does it look like in practical terms?

Symptoms of Widespread Joint Pain

So, with a condition like osteoarthritis, it’s common to wake in the morning and feel some pain and stiffness. But this is primarily relegated to certain areas such as the hips, knees, and lower-back. In the case of fibromyalgia, however, joint pain can be found over the whole body, thus the term “widespread.” Experts add, “The pain can be deep, sharp, dull, throbbing, or aching, and it is pain that’s felt in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints. The Arthritis Foundation describes the muscle and tissue pain as tender, aching, throbbing, sore, burning, and gnawing. For some people with fibromyalgia, the pain comes and goes. The pain also seems to travel throughout the body” [emphasis added].

This sounds pretty miserable, doesn’t it? Obviously, there’s no specific cure, unless of course you’re dealing with a specific disease or condition that is causing it and can also be treated. So what should you do?

Treating Widespread Joint Pain

The absolute most important step in treating this condition is finding out the root cause first. If you are experiencing the symptoms discussed here, but you aren’t sure what the cause is, then finding out can make all the difference in the world. For example, your pain could be related to gout. So treating the gout first will then lead to the treatment of the joint pain. Furthermore, your widespread joint pain could be related to inflammation. In that case, anti-inflammatories would be helpful four you. And while it is less likely, the pain could be related to cancer. Other possibilities include rheumatic and neurological causes. Thus, finding the root cause immediately is absolutely imperative.

If your pain is mild and relatively limited in location, however, the Mayo Clinic recommends the following options:

• Try an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
• Avoid using your joint in ways that cause or worsen pain.
• Apply ice or a package of frozen peas to your painful joint for 15 to 20 minutes a few times each day.
• Apply a heating pad, soak in a warm tub or take a warm shower to relax muscles and increase circulation.

Have you experienced widespread joint pain? Do you know the cause? What treatments have helped you deal with the pain? Please share your experiences with us here.