Arthritis is used to refer to almost 100 different kinds of conditions related to inflammation of the joint. Each of which has their own symptoms and individual treatment plan. Most often when people experience joint pain they usually refer to it as a symptom of arthritis although not all episodes of joint pain are due to arthritis. Other reasons for joint or muscle pain could be problems with structures around the joint such as tendons, bursas, ligaments or muscles.

The following are common symptoms of joint pain that is not due to arthritis and is often caused by tendinitis, bursitis, or muscle strain:

1. There is no evident swelling or damage to the joint.
2. The joint can still afford movement without a lot of difficulty.
3. The pain usually occurs after a recent session of activity.

A joint pain on the other hand that is caused by arthritis often exhibits one or all of the following features:

1. There is fluid build up and swelling about the joint.
2. The physical appearance of the joint changes.
3. Joint pain usually lasts for weeks, months or even longer.

Arthritis is categorized into two main types: Inflammatory and Non-inflammatory arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis has three main types, which include rheumatoid arthritis, gout and arthritis caused by infections. The common signs of inflammatory arthritis include swelling, redness, warmth and tenderness. The joint usually loses motion or function and there is accompanying joint damage. The onset of inflammatory arthritis differs from person to person. It could be sudden and intense pain for some individuals while others experience gradual pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease affecting many parts of the body. This happens when the body's immune system attacks and inflicts damage on the joint surface resulting into pain, swelling and stiffness.

Gout is characterized by a sudden severe pain in a single joint usually at the base of a big toe. Gout is caused by too much uric acid build up in the body. Too much uric acid causes the formation of crystals in the fluid that lubricates the joints. The crystal formation causes the pain, swelling and redness that are common symptoms of gout.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of non-inflammatory arthritis. Typically, in the case of osteoarthritis, there is breakage in the protective cartilage cushion on the bone. This creates friction between bone joints that rub against each other. Osteoarthritis is a slow starting type of arthritis that usually develops over months to years. Some people do not really know that they are in danger of osteoporosis until they experience serious warning signs such as the following:

1. There is minor to non-existent swelling.
2. There is pain, loss of function and joint damage caused by the changes in the joint cartilage.
3. Lower back pain is usually experienced.
4. There is loss of height since osteoporosis overtime can cause bone loss causing the spine to collapse.
5. A person may suffer from a hunched back.
6. A person may suffer from a broken wrist, hip or rib.