Last updated: October 2026
Joint pain is common, especially after 50. The usual causes are osteoarthritis, sprains, a viral illness and, for women, lower oestrogen around menopause. Staying active, strength exercise, a healthy weight and warmth help most. See a GP if pain lasts 2 weeks or morning stiffness lasts over 30 minutes, and get urgent help if a joint is hot and swollen.
iBelow: causes, pain all over the body, alcohol, menopause, joint pain after 50, morning stiffness, what helps and when to see a GP (NHS advice, checked October 2026).
What causes joint pain?
iThe NHS lists these possible causes and clues. Don’t self-diagnose; see a GP if you’re worried.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain, swelling or bruising after intense or repetitive exercise | Sprain or strain |
| Pain that’s worse when walking and stiffness after activity, usually over 45 | Osteoarthritis |
| Warm, swollen joint that’s more painful when moved or pressed | Bursitis |
| Pain and stiffness on both sides of the body, worse after not moving | Rheumatoid arthritis |
| Hot, swollen big toe with sudden, very bad pain, often overnight | Gout. See gout |
| Hot, swollen joint that’s hard to move, with a high temperature | Joint infection: get urgent help |
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View productJoint pain all over the body: common causes
Pain in one joint usually points to something local, like a sprain or osteoarthritis. When several joints ache at once, or it feels like every joint hurts, the cause is more often something affecting the whole body. These are the most common ones, with what the NHS says about each.
| Possible cause | Clues | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Flu or another viral illness | Comes on quickly with an aching body, a high temperature, tiredness and a headache | Rest, fluids and paracetamol or ibuprofen. See cold or flu and aching all over. Aches after a vaccine are covered in flu jab side effects |
| Reactive arthritis | Sore, stiff, swollen joints (often knees and feet) starting 1 to 4 weeks after an infection such as food poisoning | See a GP. It usually goes within 6 months |
| Joint hypermobility syndrome | Very flexible joints with repeated pain and stiffness, sprains or joints that “pop out” | See a GP. The main treatment is building muscle strength and fitness |
| Fibromyalgia | Long-term pain all over the body with tiredness, poor sleep and “fibro-fog” | See a GP. See fibromyalgia: what the research shows |
| Inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis) | Pain, swelling and stiffness on both sides of the body, often hands, feet and wrists, worse after rest | See a GP. Early treatment matters |
| Perimenopause and menopause | Muscle aches and joint pains alongside other symptoms such as hot flushes | See joint pain and menopause |
| Low vitamin D | In adults, a lack of vitamin D can cause bone pain (osteomalacia) | See vitamin D deficiency symptoms |
| Medicines such as statins | The NHS lists muscle aches and swollen joints as a common side effect of atorvastatin | Don’t stop a medicine on your own: speak to a pharmacist or doctor |
| Lyme disease | Flu-like symptoms with muscle and joint pain days or weeks after a tick bite, sometimes with a circular rash | See a GP and mention the tick bite |
Get urgent help. The NHS says ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have joint pain and the skin around it is swollen and feels hot, or you have joint pain and feel generally unwell, have a high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery. Go to A&E or call 999 if you have very bad joint pain after a fall or injury, can’t put weight on a joint, a joint has moved out of place, or you have tingling or no feeling around the joint after an injury.
Can alcohol cause joint pain?
It can, mainly through gout. Here is how drinking links to sore joints.
- Gout. Gout happens when too much uric acid (urate) in the blood forms crystals around a joint, causing sudden severe pain, usually in the big toe, with hot, swollen skin. The NHS says drinking alcohol raises your chance of gout, and drinking too much alcohol or eating a very large meal can trigger an attack.
- Beer and spirits. Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis) says too much alcohol, especially beer and spirits, can raise urate levels, and beer is particularly high in purines, which the body breaks down into urate. Small amounts of wine don’t appear to raise the risk of an attack.
- Dehydration. Getting dehydrated is another gout trigger the NHS lists, and a night of heavy drinking can leave you short of fluids.
- Inflammatory arthritis medicines. If you take methotrexate for rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, the NHS says it’s usually OK to drink alcohol on a low weekly dose (25mg or less). On higher doses, ask your doctor first.
To lower the risk of gout coming back, the NHS suggests some alcohol-free days each week and no more than 14 units a week. If a joint is suddenly hot, red and very painful after drinking, see a GP. See gout: medicines and what helps, and for alcohol-free evening drinks, our Sober October nightcaps.
Menopause joint pain: why it happens and how long it lasts
The NHS says perimenopause and menopause can cause aching and painful joints because of lower oestrogen. Many women notice stiffness in the hands, knees, hips and shoulders, often worse in the morning.
- How common. A 2024 review estimated more than 70% of women get muscle or joint symptoms during the menopause transition. An Oxford review found the link with falling oestrogen strong but not proven.
- How long. The NHS says menopause symptoms usually last 7 to 9 years, sometimes longer, and joint pain can continue after menopause.
- What helps. Activity with strength work twice a week, a healthy weight and good sleep. HRT can help with menopause symptoms: ask your GP whether it suits you (NHS: HRT).
- Don’t assume it’s menopause. Arthritis also becomes more common in these years, so swollen joints or long morning stiffness need a GP check.
What is the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause?
It is a new name rather than a new condition. In a 2024 review in the journal Climacteric, US doctors proposed the term “musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause” to group the muscle, joint and bone changes linked to falling oestrogen: joint aches, loss of muscle mass and bone density, tendon and ligament problems, frozen shoulder and faster progression of osteoarthritis. The aim is for women and doctors to spot the pattern sooner, rather than treating each ache on its own. It isn’t a formal diagnosis, and these symptoms have other causes too, so see a GP if pain, stiffness or a painful, stiff shoulder doesn’t settle.
What helps is the same as above: the NHS advises staying active with strength exercise twice a week and keeping to a healthy weight, and HRT for menopause symptoms is a conversation to have with your GP. More in our perimenopause symptoms guide and supplements for joint pain and stiffness.
More: perimenopause symptoms, how long menopause lasts, perimenopause and sleep, creatine for women, magnesium for menopause, CBD and menopause research and menopause supplements ranked by evidence.
Joint pain after 50: is it normal?
The NHS says joint pain is common, especially as you get older, but you don’t have to put up with it. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis in the UK, becomes more likely with age and is more common in women. It usually affects the knees, hips and hands, and the NHS says it does not necessarily get worse.
- Keep moving. The NHS suggests 150 minutes of moderate activity a week plus strength exercises on 2 days. See steps a day by age and Japanese walking.
- Worse at night? See knee pain, hip pain and sleep as you get older.
- Check new supplements. The NHS says some supplements can interfere with medicines. If you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first (see CBD for older adults).
iSigns that need a GP in this age group are in when to see a GP.
Morning stiffness: why joints are stiff when you wake
Joints stiffen when they haven’t moved for a while, so mornings are often worst. How long it lasts is a useful clue.
| Morning stiffness | Often linked to | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 minutes, eases as you move | Osteoarthritis, or not moving overnight | Keep active |
| Over 30 minutes, often both sides | Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis | See a GP |
| Over 45 minutes in shoulders, neck and hips, over 50 | Polymyalgia rheumatica | See a GP if it lasts over a week |
Why are my hands stiff every morning?
Hand osteoarthritis affects the base of the thumb and finger joints, which can become stiff and knobbly. With rheumatoid arthritis you may not be able to make a full fist. Numbness or tingling points to carpal tunnel syndrome. More in CBD for arthritis and joint pain and our arthritis guide.
How to make mornings easier
Arthritis UK suggests gentle stretches, warmth (a hot shower, a hot water bottle or soaking hands in warm water), not rushing, and timing painkillers as the pack or your pharmacist advises.
What helps joint pain
| Approach | Why |
|---|---|
| Strengthening and regular exercise | NICE recommends therapeutic exercise as a core treatment for osteoarthritis |
| Low-impact activity | Swimming, cycling and walking keep joints moving |
| A healthy weight | Less load on knees and hips |
| Heat or cold | Heat for stiffness, a cold pack for a new injury or swelling |
| Rest after a sprain | Then gradually return to activity |
| Sleep | Poor sleep makes pain feel worse. See insomnia |
| Physiotherapy | In many areas you can refer yourself to NHS musculoskeletal (MSK) services |
A massage balm or a daily oil
Many people like a massage balm as part of their routine. Our CBD Balm, Muscle and Joint Support is a cooling, non-greasy balm with peppermint, eucalyptus and juniper for massaging into knees, hands, shoulders and back. It’s a cosmetic for massage, not a treatment for joint pain. See how to use CBD balm.
Prefer something by mouth? Relief CBD Oil is broad spectrum CBD with turmeric extract and black pepper extract in MCT oil, in 500mg and 1,000mg. It’s a food supplement, not a medicine, and no good trial has shown CBD eases joint pain (see the arthritis trials and CBD with turmeric).
Add Relief CBD Oil 500mg to bag or choose another strength
iIf you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first (which medicines to check). On blood thinners, ask your GP before taking turmeric.
The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
Do supplements help joint pain? The short version
Supplements have modest evidence at best. Most trials are small, short and in knee osteoarthritis. Turmeric (curcumin) and boswellia have the most promising short-term results, evidence for omega-3, collagen and MSM is mixed, and NICE advises the NHS not to offer glucosamine for osteoarthritis. Exercise and a healthy weight help more.
iWe’ve ranked each supplement by the evidence, with the vitamins that have authorised roles for normal bones, cartilage and muscles and who should check with a pharmacist first, in our guide to the best supplements for joint pain and stiffness.
Joint pain or muscle pain?
Not every ache near a joint comes from the joint itself. Pain can also start in a muscle, a bone or a nerve, and where you feel it and what it feels like give useful clues.
Joint pain vs muscle, bone or nerve pain
| Type | Where and how it feels | Typical triggers | Clues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint | In or around a joint (knee, hip, finger, shoulder): aching, stiffness, swelling or clicking | Osteoarthritis, sprains, gout, inflammatory arthritis, menopause | Often worse after rest or first thing. Stiffness over 30 minutes after waking needs a GP. See morning stiffness |
| Muscle | In the fleshy part of a muscle: aching, tightness, cramping or spasm | New or hard exercise, overstretching, tired muscles, a viral illness such as flu | Usually eases within a few days. See muscle recovery |
| Bone | Deep inside a bone: pain or tenderness that may be constant or come and go | A fall or injury; less often, a problem in the bone itself | Bone pain that is worse at night or keeps getting worse needs a GP check |
| Nerve | Along a nerve, such as down one leg or in the feet: burning, stabbing or shooting, often with pins and needles or numbness | A trapped or irritated nerve, diabetes, shingles, some medicines, drinking too much alcohol | Tingling or numbness with the pain points to a nerve. See sciatica and pins and needles |
Why do my joints hurt for no reason?
There is usually a cause you can find: early osteoarthritis, a recent viral illness such as flu, repetitive use, or perimenopause and menopause. Less often it is inflammatory arthritis, with stiffness on both sides of the body lasting over 30 minutes after waking. That needs a GP, because early treatment matters.
When to see a GP
See a GP if joint pain stops normal activities or affects your sleep, keeps getting worse or coming back, hasn’t improved after 2 weeks, or your joints are stiff for more than 30 minutes after waking.
Over 50? Morning stiffness around the shoulders, neck and hips lasting over 45 minutes can be polymyalgia rheumatica: see a GP if it lasts more than a week. With a new headache, tender scalp, jaw pain when eating or sight changes, contact a GP immediately or call NHS 111.
Get urgent help (urgent GP or NHS 111) if a painful joint is swollen and hot, or you feel unwell with a high temperature. Go to A&E after a bad injury or if you can’t put weight on the joint.
Related guides
- One joint? See knee pain, hip pain, shoulder pain (including frozen shoulder), tennis elbow and sacroiliac joint pain.
- Not the joint? Lower back pain, heel pain (plantar fasciitis) and sciatica: why there’s no proven CBD dose.
- Joint pain with white fingers in the cold can be secondary Raynaud’s; with scaly skin patches, read about psoriatic arthritis. Mention either to your GP.
- Food: anti-inflammatory foods and mushrooms for inflammation. Menopause: hot flushes and supplements for women over 40.
- Comparing CBD oils? See how to choose a CBD oil for pain in the UK, CBD with turmeric and what the CBD arthritis trials found.
Sources 44
- NHS. Joint pain.
- NICE. Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226).
- Mathieu S et al (2022). A meta-analysis of the impact of nutritional supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms. Nutrients.
- NHS. Osteoarthritis.
- NHS. Gout.
- Arthritis UK. Gout: symptoms, causes and treatment.
- NHS. Flu.
- NHS. Reactive arthritis.
- NHS. Joint hypermobility syndrome.
- NHS. Fibromyalgia.
- NHS. Rheumatoid arthritis.
- NHS. Sprains and strains.
- NHS. Peripheral neuropathy.
- NHS. Sciatica.
- NHS. Bone cancer symptoms (for how bone pain is described).
- NHS. Perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
- NHS. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
- Wright VJ et al (2024). The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. Climacteric.
- Watt FE (2018). Musculoskeletal pain and menopause. Post Reprod Health.
- NHS. Osteoarthritis symptoms and living with osteoarthritis.
- NHS. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
- NHS. Polymyalgia rheumatica.
- Arthritis UK. Managing stiffness.
- NHS. Vitamin D.
- NHS. Vitamin A.
- NHS. Atorvastatin.
- NHS. Lyme disease.
- NHS. Common questions about methotrexate.
- Arthritis UK. Turmeric.
- Arthritis UK. Glucosamine.
- NCCIH. Turmeric: usefulness and safety.
- NCCIH. Glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis.
- Liu X et al (2018). Dietary supplements for treating osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med.
- Yu G et al (2020). Effectiveness of Boswellia and Boswellia extract for osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther.
- Bartels EM et al (2015). Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Osteoarthritis Cartilage.
- Deng W et al (2023). Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation for patients with osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res.
- García-Coronado JM et al (2019). Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Int Orthop.
- Singh JA et al (2015). Chondroitin for osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
- Brien S et al (2008). Systematic review of the nutritional supplements DMSO and MSM in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage.
- Knudsen JF, Sokol GH (2008). Potential glucosamine-warfarin interaction resulting in increased international normalized ratio. Pharmacotherapy.
- Hatfield J et al (2022). Dietary supplements and bleeding. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent).
- Vela J et al (2022). Cannabidiol treatment in hand osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pain.
- Heineman JT et al (2022). A randomized controlled trial of topical cannabidiol for the treatment of thumb basal joint arthritis. J Hand Surg Am.
- FSA. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Evopure makes the CBD Balm and Relief CBD Oil. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
