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Pain, bones and joints: find the right page
The pages on this site for pain, bones and joints were spread out across the long list of tools. This page puts 38 of them on one list, sorted by where it hurts or what happened. Pick one and it opens. Each line below is that page’s own description.
If you think someone’s life is in danger, call 911 now. This page is a list. It cannot tell one pain from another, and it cannot tell you how serious something is.
Our heart attack page names pressure or pain in the chest, and pain in the arm, jaw or back, among the signs, and says to call 911 even if you are not sure, and not to drive. Our back pain page says when it cannot wait, and when it is the emergency room or 911. Our page on a hit to the head names the danger signs that mean call 911. Our broken bone page says when to call 911 and when not to move someone. Our sickle cell page names severe pain among the symptoms that are emergencies.
Type a word or two, like back, joint, headache or fall. Nothing you type here is kept or sent.
A back that hurts
Written for anyone whose back hurts, whether it started yesterday or has gone on for months.
- Back pain: when to see a doctor, what can cause it, and what helpsFor anyone whose back hurts, whether it started yesterday after lifting something or has gone on for months. Keeps nothing.
A stiff, sore lower back that is worse after rest (ankylosing spondylitis)
Written for anyone whose lower back is stiff and sore, worse after rest and better when they move, anyone young whose back has hurt for months, and anyone just told they have ankylosing spondylitis.
- Ankylosing spondylitis: the symptoms, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose lower back is stiff and sore, worse after rest and better when they move, anyone young whose back has hurt for months, anyone just told they have ankylosing spondylitis, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
Back or neck pain, with legs, arms or hands that burn, tingle, go numb or feel weak (spinal stenosis)
Written for anyone whose legs burn, ache or go numb when they stand or walk and ease when they sit or lean forward, and anyone whose neck hurts with tingling or weak arms or hands. New trouble controlling the bladder or bowels, or legs weak or numb fast: an emergency room now (ours).
- Spinal stenosis: the symptoms, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose legs burn, ache or go numb when they stand or walk and ease when they sit or lean forward, anyone whose neck hurts with tingling or weak arms or hands, and anyone just told they have spinal stenosis or shown a scan with narrowing. Keeps nothing.
A child’s back that curves to the side (scoliosis)
Written for a parent or caregiver who has noticed a child’s uneven shoulders or hips, and anyone just told their child has scoliosis. Trouble breathing: 911 (ours).
- Scoliosis: the signs in a child, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor a parent or caregiver who has noticed a child’s uneven shoulders or hips, a shoulder blade that sticks out, or one side of the rib cage higher when the child bends forward; a family with a note from a school screening; and anyone just told their child has scoliosis, needs a brace, or may need surgery. Keeps nothing.
Joints that hurt, or arthritis and gout
The first is for anyone whose joints hurt or who has been told they have arthritis. The second is for a big toe or another joint that suddenly hurts, swells and turns red, and for anyone told they have gout.
- When it’s arthritisFor anyone whose joints hurt or who has been told they have arthritis, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
- Gout: the symptoms, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose big toe or another joint suddenly hurts, swells and turns red, anyone just told they have gout, and anyone whose flares keep coming back. Keeps nothing.
Joints that hurt, with psoriasis, a swollen finger or toe, or pitted nails (psoriatic arthritis)
Written for anyone with psoriasis whose joints have started to hurt, anyone with a swollen finger or toe, a sore heel or pitted nails, and anyone just told they have psoriatic arthritis.
- Psoriatic arthritis: the symptoms, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone with psoriasis whose joints have started to hurt, anyone with a whole finger or toe swollen like a sausage, a sore heel or pitted nails, anyone just told they have psoriatic arthritis, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
Joints that hurt and swell a few weeks after an infection (reactive arthritis)
Written for anyone whose knee, ankle or heel started to hurt a few weeks after a stomach bug, food poisoning or another infection, and anyone with sore joints and red eyes. A hot, very swollen joint with a fever: care today (ours).
- Reactive arthritis: the signs after an infection, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose knee, ankle or heel started to hurt and swell a few weeks after a stomach bug, food poisoning, a bladder infection or a sexually transmitted infection, anyone with sore joints and red eyes or burning when they pee, and anyone just told they have reactive arthritis. Keeps nothing.
Long arms, legs and fingers, loose joints, and a heart to keep watch on (Marfan syndrome)
Written for anyone with long limbs, loose joints or a chest that caves in or sticks out, and anyone with Marfan syndrome in the family. Sudden, severe chest, back or belly pain: 911 (ours).
- Marfan syndrome: the signs, what causes it and who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone with long arms, legs and fingers, loose joints, or a chest that caves in or sticks out who wonders whether it is Marfan syndrome, anyone with it in the family or a relative who died young of an unexplained heart problem, and anyone just told that they or their child have it. Keeps nothing.
Bones that break easily, from a small bump or for no clear reason (osteogenesis imperfecta)
Written for anyone whose bones break easily, and anyone with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) in the family. A bone that may be broken: keep it still and get care today (ours).
- Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease): the signs, the types, what causes it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose bones break easily, from a small bump or for no clear reason, anyone with OI in the family, and anyone just told that they or their child have osteogenesis imperfecta. Keeps nothing.
Bone replaced by scar-like tissue, with bone pain, bowed bones or breaks (fibrous dysplasia)
Written for anyone just told that they or their child have fibrous dysplasia, and anyone whose x-ray found it by chance. A bone that may be broken: keep it still and get care today (ours).
- Fibrous dysplasia: the signs, what causes it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone just told that they or their child have fibrous dysplasia, and anyone whose x-ray, taken for something else, found it by chance. Keeps nothing.
Bones that grow too dense and break easily, with low blood counts or infections (osteopetrosis)
Written for anyone just told that they or their child have osteopetrosis, and teenagers and adults whose x-ray found it. A fever or a sign of infection: call the doctor today (ours).
- Osteopetrosis: the types, the signs, what causes it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone just told that they or their child have osteopetrosis, parents of a baby with the severe infantile form, and teenagers and adults whose x-ray found it. Keeps nothing.
A hand that goes numb, tingles or feels weak, often at night (carpal tunnel syndrome)
Written for anyone whose fingers go numb or tingle, and anyone who drops things or finds buttons hard. Sudden numbness or weakness on one side: 911 (ours).
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: the signs, what causes it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose fingers go numb or tingle, especially at night, anyone who wakes up shaking out a hand, and anyone who now drops things or finds buttons hard. Keeps nothing.
A child or teen still hurting after a fall, a hit or a lot of one sport (growth plate injuries)
Written for a parent or caregiver whose child or teen is still hurting after a fall, a hit or a hard season of one sport, and for any young athlete. A bone through the skin or a badly bent limb: 911 (ours).
- Growth plate injuries in children and teens: the signs, who gets them, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and recoveryFor any parent or caregiver whose child or teen is still hurting after a fall, a hit or a hard season of one sport, and for any young athlete. Keeps nothing.
A child’s joints that hurt, swell or are stiff (juvenile arthritis)
Written for a parent or caregiver whose child limps in the morning or has a swollen, stiff joint, and anyone just told their child has juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
- Juvenile arthritis (JIA): the signs in a child, the types, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor a parent or caregiver whose child limps in the morning or has a swollen, stiff knee or ankle, a child with a fever every day and a rash that comes and goes, anyone just told their child has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and young people who have it. Keeps nothing.
Shoulders and hips that ache and stiffen after 50, or a new headache at the temples (polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis)
Written for someone past 50 whose shoulders and hips ache and stiffen every morning, someone with a new headache at the temples or jaw pain when chewing, and anyone taking a steroid for it. Sight that blurs, doubles or goes dark: 911 or an emergency room now (ours).
- Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: the symptoms, who gets them, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with themFor someone past 50 whose shoulders and hips ache and stiffen every morning, someone with a new headache at the temples, a tender scalp or jaw pain when chewing, anyone just told they have polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), and anyone taking a steroid for it. Keeps nothing.
Weak bones (osteoporosis)
Written for anyone told they have weak bones, anyone who broke a bone from a small fall, and anyone wondering about a bone density test.
- Osteoporosis: the signs, who is at risk, the bone test, and preventing broken bonesFor anyone told they have weak bones or low bone density, anyone who broke a bone from a small fall, and anyone wondering about a bone density test. Keeps nothing.
Weak bones in a child or teen (juvenile osteoporosis)
Written for parents of a child or teen just told it is juvenile osteoporosis, and for teens themselves. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own (ours).
- Juvenile osteoporosis: the signs, what causes it, the bone density test, treatment, and when no cause is foundFor parents of a child or teen just told it is juvenile osteoporosis, for teens themselves, and for families whose child takes a medicine that can weaken bones. Keeps nothing.
Bones that grow larger and weaker (Paget’s disease of bone)
Written for anyone with bone pain that will not go away, and anyone whose x-ray or blood test pointed to Paget’s disease. A fall and a bone may be broken: an emergency room now (ours).
- Paget’s disease of bone: the symptoms, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone with bone pain that will not go away, anyone whose x-ray or blood test pointed to Paget’s disease, and anyone just told they have it. Keeps nothing.
Bone that loses its blood supply (osteonecrosis)
Written for anyone with hip, groin or joint pain that is getting worse, and anyone who has taken steroid medicine for a long time. A fall and a bone may be broken: an emergency room now (ours).
- Osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis): the symptoms, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone with hip, groin or joint pain that is getting worse, anyone who has taken steroid medicine for a long time, and anyone just told they have osteonecrosis. Keeps nothing.
A hip that hurts and limits what you can do, or a hip replacement ahead (hip replacement surgery)
Written for anyone whose hip pain limits what they can do, anyone told they may need a new hip, and the people who will help at home. Chest pain, trouble breathing, or a bad fall after surgery: 911 (ours).
- Hip replacement surgery: why it is done, getting ready, the surgery, recovery, and life with a new hipFor anyone whose hip pain limits what they can do, anyone told they may need a new hip or with a surgery date, and the people who will help them at home. Keeps nothing.
Pain that has lasted for months
Written for people living with pain that has lasted for months, wherever it is, and the people beside them.
- When pain doesn’t go awayFor people living with pain that has lasted for months, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
Pain all over, with fatigue and trouble sleeping (fibromyalgia)
Written for anyone who hurts all over and is worn out, anyone just told they have fibromyalgia, and anyone whose tests keep coming back normal.
- Fibromyalgia: the symptoms, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone who hurts all over and is worn out, anyone just told they have fibromyalgia, and anyone whose tests keep coming back normal. Keeps nothing.
Joint pain with fevers, rashes or tiredness that come and go (lupus)
Written for anyone with symptoms that come and go, such as painful joints, fevers, tiredness and rashes, anyone told a test came back positive, and anyone just told they have lupus.
- Lupus: the symptoms, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone with symptoms that come and go, such as painful joints, fevers, tiredness and rashes, anyone told a test came back positive, anyone just told they have lupus, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
Dry eyes and a dry mouth, with joint pain or tiredness (Sjögren’s disease)
Written for anyone whose eyes and mouth are dry all the time, anyone with joint pain and tiredness beside the dryness, and anyone just told they have Sjögren’s disease.
- Sjögren’s disease: the symptoms, who gets it, getting a diagnosis, treatment, and living with itFor anyone whose eyes and mouth are dry all the time, anyone with joint pain and tiredness beside the dryness, anyone just told they have Sjögren’s disease, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
Headaches and migraine, or a hit to the head
The first is for headaches that keep coming back. The second is for a blow, a fall, a crash or a fight, now or years ago.
- Migraine and headachesFor anyone living with migraine or headaches that keep coming back, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
- After a hit to the headYou hit your head, or you haven’t felt right since a blow, a fall, a crash or a fight; it is your child; or it happened years ago and nobody ever looked at it. Keeps nothing.
A bone that might be broken, a sprain, or a joint out of place
Written for someone hurt in front of you right now, a swollen ankle or wrist you are wondering about, or living with a cast.
- When a bone might be brokenSomeone hurt in front of you right now, a swollen ankle or wrist you are wondering about, or living with a cast. Keeps nothing.
- Sprains, strains and other sports injuries: the signs, home care (R-I-C-E), when to see a provider, treatment, and getting back to activityFor anyone who twisted an ankle, pulled a muscle or took a fall, anyone whose elbow, knee or shoulder hurts from the same motion over and over, at play or at work, and parents of young athletes. Keeps nothing.
Pain in the chest, or in the arm, jaw or back
Our heart attack page names these as signs, and says to call 911 even if you are not sure.
- When it might be a heart attackPressure or pain in the chest, pain in the arm, jaw or back, short of breath or a cold sweat; you are not sure it is your heart; someone has collapsed and is not responding; you are home after a heart attack; or you are beside someone who is. Keeps nothing.
Pain that comes with something else: sickle cell, shingles, a fall, or a job
These four are about something else. The sickle cell page has what to do in a pain crisis; the shingles page has the nerve pain that can stay after the rash; the page on getting older has what to do after a fall; the work page is for people who were hurt on the job.
- When it’s sickle cellFor people who have sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait, parents whose baby’s newborn screening came back with it, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
- Shingles: the signs, the first three days, the pain that can stay, who can catch what, the vaccine, and when to callFor anyone with a painful rash on one side of the body or face that may be shingles, or looking after someone who has it. Keeps nothing.
- Help as you get olderGetting older, or looking out for someone who is. Keeps nothing.
- When something is wrong at workFor people who were not paid right, whose workplace is not safe, who were hurt on the job, who are harassed or treated differently, who were punished or fired after speaking up, or who are afraid to say anything, and the people beside them. Keeps nothing.
Before you call or go in
These four are for anyone’s appointment, call or medicines. They were not made for pain.
- Symptom diary: write it down, show your doctorWrite down what you notice when it happens, with your own number from 0 to 10. What you type is kept only in this browser.
- Get ready for your appointmentTen minutes before you go: what has been happening, your medicines, your questions and what helps you, on one page to hand to your doctor, therapist or psychiatrist, with room to write down the plan. What you type is kept only in this browser.
- Call script: know what you will say before you dialA phone call you keep putting off? Write who you are calling, the sentence that says what you want, what to have ready and what to ask. What you type is kept only in this browser.
- My medicines: a list and a daily check“Did I already take it?” Write down what you take and when, tick each medicine as you take it, and the page keeps the time. What you type is kept only in this browser.
No page on this list matches those words. Try one word, press Show all, or search the whole site.
Good to know
What these pages are
- All 38 were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast. No doctor, nurse or pharmacist has reviewed them.
- The health guides pass on what named public sources say, such as the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Most guides name the sources they were built from.
- Every line on this list is copied from the page it points to when this list is built. This list adds no health facts of its own.
- The order of the list is not an order of how serious a thing is. Being lower on the list does not make anything less urgent.
- They are for the United States: the phone numbers and the offices are U.S. ones.
What this page can’t do
- It is not medical advice. It cannot tell one kind of pain from another, or tell you whether to wait or to go in.
- It does not have every subject. There is no page here yet for neck pain on its own.
- Most of these pages were written about adults. Four also have a part on children: migraine and headaches, a hit to the head, a broken bone, and sports injuries.
- It does not replace a doctor, nurse line, pharmacist or clinic. If something feels wrong to you, call them.
Pages that go with this
- First aid: what do you see?: the cards for when someone is hurt in front of you.
- An upset stomach, heartburn or constipation: find the right page: the list that has belly pain.
- Kidneys, bladder and urine: find the right page: the list that has kidney stones and bladder infections.
- All the free tools, and search.
- The phone list: the helplines the guides lead with, on one page.
- Pass it on: any of these pages as a code to show or a slip to print.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). The names and lines of the 38 pages are read from the pages’ own descriptions when this page is built. The page was checked by programs, not yet used by people. It runs no analytics or tracking (privacy). Also in Spanish: Dolor, huesos y articulaciones. Found a mistake? Email scarlet@scarletbeast.com.