The most common cause of joint pain is joint inflammation (arthritis) and wear and tear disease. The term “rheumatism” is primarily a collection of various diseases with chronic inflammatory joint complaints, i.e. a form of arthritis. The so-called “gout” is also a form of arthritis. In this metabolic disease, uric acid is elevated in the blood. If a certain limit is exceeded, the uric acid can be deposited in the tissue in the form of crystals. Affected joints can react to this with painful inflammation, a so-called gout attack.

General wear and tear damage (osteoarthritis) is usually the result of excessive or uneven loading. If joint bones are involved in addition to cartilage structures, the condition is referred to as osteochondrosis. If a cartilage-bone fragment settles into the joint space and becomes trapped, this is called impingement syndrome.

Sometimes joint pain can also be attributed to bursitis. Bursae act as a small cushion between the joints to protect them and cushion pressure or friction from the outside. Inflammation is noticeable by pain in the area of the joint, but also by palpable swelling.