Ten Reasons Your Joints May Hurt

5. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a very common joint disease that affects more than 27 million Americans. It is also known as degenerative arthritis, and it is most likely to affect the knees, hips, lower back, and neck. In some cases, it can affect the smaller joints of the fingers.

As osteoarthritis progresses, the cartilage that covers the bones slowly breaks down, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints. Parts of the cartilage may break off and get stuck in the body, causing further pain and discomfort. It is important to receive a fast diagnosis to slow the progression of the condition.