Knowledge Centre
Providing rapid medical guidance and expert health insights for informational purposes. Our guides come from a Harley Street clinic, but they do not replace a professional consultation.
Joint pain: causes, blood tests and when to see a GP
Written by Mr Stephen Lingam · Reviewed by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470) on 25/09/2026
Key takeaways
- The cause of joint pain decides the treatment: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are managed very differently.
- Morning stiffness is a useful clue. Under 30 minutes suggests osteoarthritis; longer suggests inflammatory arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis does best when treatment starts within three months of symptoms, so early assessment pays off.
- A private GP appointment at 117a Harley Street is £150, with blood tests taken at the clinic if the GP needs them.
Your knees ache on the stairs, your fingers are stiff when you wake, or a big toe flared up overnight and you can't bear the sheet on it.
Joint pain is one of the most common reasons people see a GP, and it ranges from a mild ache after exercise to inflammation that stops normal movement. A focused history, an examination and, where useful, targeted blood tests can usually identify the type of joint problem in a single consultation.
If you'd like it assessed, a private GP appointment at our Harley Street clinic is £150, and same-day appointments are often available. If blood tests would help, they're taken at the clinic and priced separately.
What's causing my joint pain?
The pattern of pain tells a GP a lot: which joints hurt, how long stiffness lasts in the morning, how quickly it came on and whether it runs in the family.
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout compared
| Osteoarthritis | Rheumatoid arthritis | Gout | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it affects | Most common after 45; around 10 million people in the UK | Any age; around 1% of the UK population | More common in men; linked to uric acid |
| Typical joints | Knees, hips, hands, base of the thumb | Small joints of the hands and feet, often both sides | Classically the big toe, but any joint |
| Morning stiffness | Under 30 minutes | Over 30 minutes | Pain is the main feature |
| How it comes on | Gradually, worse with activity, easing with rest | Over weeks, with swelling and tiredness | Suddenly, a red, hot, very tender joint; attacks last 5 to 7 days |
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint condition in the UK. Cartilage thins and the bone underneath remodels, causing pain, stiffness and less movement. NICE advises that it can be diagnosed without scans in people aged 45 or over with activity-related joint pain and morning stiffness of 30 minutes or less.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the joint lining (synovium), causing swelling and, eventually, joint damage. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can prevent that damage, and NICE recommends starting them within three months of symptoms beginning.
Gout happens when uric acid crystals settle in a joint. Blood uric acid is most useful between attacks, because it can look misleadingly normal during a flare. NICE recommends lowering it below 360 µmol/L with long-term treatment for people who need it.
Mechanical and soft tissue problems such as tendinitis, bursitis, sprains and overuse injuries cause a large share of joint pain, especially in younger, active people. The pain usually sits around the joint rather than inside it, and responds well to rest, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication.
Which blood tests help with joint pain?
Blood tests help separate inflammatory joint disease from wear and tear. Your GP chooses them from your history and examination, so you only pay for the ones that answer a question.
- CRP and ESR, the inflammation markers: raised in rheumatoid arthritis and gout, usually normal in osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies: point towards rheumatoid arthritis.
- Uric acid: checked when gout is suspected.
- Full blood count, liver and kidney function: a baseline before treatment and a check for other causes.
- ANA (antinuclear antibody): added if an autoimmune condition such as lupus is suspected.
X-rays may show narrowing of the joint space in osteoarthritis or erosions in rheumatoid arthritis. Ultrasound can pick up early inflammation and guide a needle when fluid needs to be drawn from the joint. You can compare individual tests on our private blood tests page.
What helps joint pain?
For osteoarthritis, NICE puts exercise and weight management first. Strengthening the muscles around a joint takes load off it, and every kilogram of excess weight adds roughly 4 kg of force across the knee. NICE no longer recommends paracetamol or weak opioids as routine treatment; anti-inflammatory gels are often the first painkiller to try for knee osteoarthritis.
Low-impact activity such as swimming, cycling and walking is easiest on sore joints, and a physiotherapist can build a programme around the joints involved. Complete rest tends to make stiffness worse.
For gout, cutting back on alcohol, sugary drinks and purine-rich foods such as red meat, offal and shellfish lowers uric acid and helps prevent flares.
When joint pain needs to be seen the same day
Book a same-day appointment, or call 0207 499 1991, if:
- a single joint is hot, red and very swollen
- you have joint swelling with a fever
- you can't put weight on a joint after an injury
- the joint looks deformed or is locked in one position
A hot, swollen joint with a fever can be septic arthritis, a joint infection that needs urgent hospital treatment. If you feel very unwell with it, go to A&E.
What happens at a GP appointment
A private GP appointment at 117a Harley Street costs £150. Your GP takes a history, examines the joints and arranges blood tests at the clinic if they'll help, with the cost agreed before they're taken.
For acute gout or a flare of inflammatory arthritis, treatment can begin the same day. If specialist input is needed, your GP can write a referral letter to a rheumatologist, an orthopaedic surgeon or a sports medicine consultant. If you already have results from elsewhere, our guide to a GP review of abnormal results explains what to bring.
Mr Stephen Lingam
Managing Director
Executive leadership
Frequently asked questions
What blood tests are done for joint pain?
Blood tests a GP may request for joint pain include ESR and CRP (inflammation markers), rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies (for rheumatoid arthritis), uric acid (for gout), a full blood count, and liver and kidney function. An ANA test may be added if autoimmune disease is suspected. Together they help tell inflammatory joint disease from mechanical causes such as osteoarthritis.
What's the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-repair condition of the cartilage, most common after 45, that affects weight-bearing joints and the hands; pain worsens with activity and eases with rest. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can start at any age, causes swelling especially in the small joints of the hands and feet, and is worst in the morning, with stiffness lasting over 30 minutes.
When is joint pain an emergency?
A single hot, red, swollen joint, especially the knee, with a fever needs same-day assessment to rule out septic arthritis, which can damage a joint within days. Gout can look similar but is less dangerous, and a doctor may need to draw fluid from the joint to tell them apart.
Can I get a same-day appointment for joint pain?
Same-day GP appointments are often available at 117a Harley Street for £150. The GP examines you and arranges blood tests at the clinic if needed, priced separately.
Should I exercise with joint pain?
Yes, in most cases. NICE recommends regular exercise for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, because stronger muscles take load off the joint. Swimming, cycling and walking are easiest to tolerate, and a physiotherapist can design a programme for the joints involved.
Can diet affect joint pain?
For gout, very much: cutting back on alcohol, sugary drinks and purine-rich foods (red meat, offal, shellfish) lowers uric acid and prevents flares. For other arthritis, keeping a healthy weight matters most, since every kilogram of excess weight adds roughly 4 kg of force across the knee. Mediterranean-style eating may help modestly alongside medical treatment.
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While our Knowledge Centre provides expert insights, it does not replace a face-to-face consultation with a doctor.
