Arthralgia

Arthralgia is derived from the Greek words arthron (“joint”) and algos (“pain”). Therefore, the literal translation is “joint pain.” While arthralgia is commonly used as a general term to describe many different types of joint pain, some reserve its use for noninflammatory conditions of the joint. This, however, is not consistent in the literature, and most often the term arthralgia is used to describe many different forms of joint pain. Because there are many different causes of arthralgia, clinicians often use its presence as a symptom for further inquiry in the diagnostic process. This entry reviews potential etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of common causes of arthralgia. This discussion is not intended to be a complete review of all conditions causing arthralgia but provides only a ...