A joint is made of cartilage, synovial membrane, ligaments, tendons, bursas and synovial fluid. The four types of joints are ball-and-socket, hinge, pivot and ellipsoidal. Each type of joint allows a distinct type of movement. Diagnosing the cause of aching joints includes the duration and extent of pain, type of joint affected, concurrent illnesses and other symptoms such as fever, stiffness and response to rest. Tests may include blood work and a joint X-ray.
Bursitis
Bursitis is condition that causes swelling and pain around muscles and bones. A bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint between the bone and the muscles, skin or tendons, swells, causing the joint to ache. The most common locations for bursitis is the elbow, hip, shoulder, ankle and knee, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Treatment for bursitis includes limiting activities that affect the aching joint, providing support to the joint such as a brace or splint, massage and gentle stretching.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease resulting from a tick bite infected with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. Disease outbreaks have spread from mostly in the Northeast and parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin to the Mid-Atlantic States and the Pacific coast, according to MedlinePlus. The prevalent time for getting Lyme disease is from late spring to early fall.
The initial sign of a tick bite carrying Lyme disease is usually a bull's eye rash with a slightly raised red spot in the center. Other symptoms--chills, fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain--mimic the flu. If left untreated, Lyme disease can progress to causing joint inflammation and pain. The treatment for Lyme disease includes antibiotic therapy and medications for symptom relief.
Sweet Syndrome
Sweet syndrome is a skin condition that's also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis. While middle-aged women are the most likely to develop Sweet syndrome, it can affect men, children and older adults, according to OhioHealth online. Sweet syndrome may develop in relation to other disease processes that include cancer, blood disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and an upper respiratory tract infection.
Symptoms of Sweet syndrome include a rash that appears suddenly on the arms, face, neck and back. The rash spreads rapidly and develops into clusters that erupt into blisters or ulcers. Other symptoms include a fever, fatigue, mouth ulcers and aching joints. Sweet syndrome will usually resolve in a few months without treatment, but treatment with corticosteroids reduces the time for healing.
