Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Osteoarthritis (OA) test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Knee does not move
Have joint pain
Have knee pain
Congenital genu varum
Pain when I press the knee
Knee pain when getting up from a chair
Can't bend or extend my elbow properly because it hurts
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
Wear and tear of the joint cartilage over time. Risk factors include repetitive joint movements and carrying heavy loads for many years.
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
Osteoarthritis cannot be reversed, but treatment can improve its symptoms. Mild cases can be managed with lifestyle changes like losing weight, using walking aids, and warm compresses. Painkillers and medicine to reduce inflammation can help with joint pain - these can sometimes be injected directly into the joint. In severe cases, surgery to smooth the bone surface or replace it with an implant can be done.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Feb 13, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
We would love to help them too.
With a free 3-min Osteoarthritis (OA) quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
See full list
Q.
How Can the Prevalence of Ankle Pain Vary with Age?
A.
Ankle pain can occur at any age, but young athletes and middle-aged individuals often experience it due to different reasons like sports injuries or chronic conditions.
References:
Wukich DK, & Tuason DA. (2011). Diagnosis and treatment of chronic ankle pain. Instructional course lectures, 21553785.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21553785/
Sammarco GJ, Carrasquillo HA, & Goldberg B. (1995). Persistent Foot and Ankle Pain in Young Athletes. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 29272154.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29272154/
Thomas MJ, Roddy E, Zhang W, Menz HB, Hannan MT, & Peat GM. (2011). The population prevalence of foot and ankle pain in middle .... Pain, 22019150.
Q.
What Are Possible Causes of Ankle Pain Without Any Recent Injury?
A.
Ankle pain without a recent injury can be caused by conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, or nerve problems. It's important to see a doctor to find out the exact cause.
References:
Vertullo C. (2002). Unresolved lateral ankle pain. It's not always 'just a sprain'. Australian family physician, 11926156.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11926156/
Choudhary S, & McNally E. (2011). Review of common and unusual causes of lateral ankle pain. Skeletal radiology, 20972871.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20972871/
Wukich DK, & Tuason DA. (2011). Diagnosis and treatment of chronic ankle pain. Instructional course lectures, 21553785.
Q.
What Could Cause Pain Specifically in the Left Ankle?
A.
Pain in the left ankle can be caused by common issues like sprains or less common conditions like nerve damage or arthritis.
References:
Choudhary S, & McNally E. (2011). Review of common and unusual causes of lateral ankle pain. Skeletal radiology, 20972871.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20972871/
Killian M, Wanchu R, Huang D, Walker J, & Ganti L. (2023). A 75-year-old with left ankle pain. Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open, 36817081.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36817081/
Abd-Rasid AF, & Bajuri MY. (2020). Commonly Missed Diagnosis of Lateral Ankle Pain: A Case .... Malaysian orthopaedic journal, 32983388.
Q.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Ankle Pain?
A.
Ankle pain is often caused by injuries like sprains, tendon problems, arthritis, or nerve issues. These can result from sports, accidents, or wear and tear over time.
References:
Choudhary S, & McNally E. (2011). Review of common and unusual causes of lateral ankle pain. Skeletal radiology, 20972871.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20972871/
Wukich DK, & Tuason DA. (2011). Diagnosis and treatment of chronic ankle pain. Instructional course lectures, 21553785.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21553785/
Nicolette GW, Edenfield KM, Michaudet C, & Carek PJ. (2018). Foot and Ankle Conditions: Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain. FP essentials, 29381042.
Q.
Why Are My Fingers Swollen When I Wake Up in the Morning?
A.
Swollen fingers in the morning can occur for several reasons, including fluid retention, inflammation, and underlying medical conditions. Understanding the potential causes can help in managing and alleviating the swelling.
References:
Warrender WJ, Salmons HI, Pham P, Watkins C, Jones C, Rivlin M. Physiological Nocturnal Hand Swelling: A Prospective Evaluation of Healthy Volunteers. J Hand Surg Am. 2019 Mar;44(3):245.e1-245.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.05.032. Epub 2018 Jul 7. PMID: 30853063.
Hasham S, Burke FD. Diagnosis and treatment of swellings in the hand. Postgrad Med J. 2007 May;83(979):296-300. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2005.043992. Erratum in: Postgrad Med J. 2007 Nov;83(985):722. PMID: 17488856; PMCID: PMC2600075.
Soberon, C. (2023, April 10). Why are my fingers swollen in the morning? Hand & Microsurgery.
https://hand-microsurgery.com/blog/why-are-my-fingers-swollen-in-the-morning/
Q.
What Are the Causes If the Base of the Thumb on the Palm Side Is Painful?
A.
Pain at the base of the thumb on the palm side can be caused by various conditions, including arthritis, tendonitis, and injuries. Identifying the specific cause is important for effective treatment and management.
References:
Kretschmer F. Zur Differentialdiagnose des Schmerzes an der Daumenbasis [Differential diagnosis of pain of the base of the thumb]. Beitr Orthop Traumatol. 1987 Nov;34(11):553-8. German. PMID: 3440015.
Shmerling RH. Finger pain. Prim Care. 1988 Dec;15(4):751-66. PMID: 3068693.
Brulhart L, Gabay C. Diagnostic différentiel des ténosynovites [The differential diagnosis of tenosynovitis]. Rev Med Suisse. 2011 Mar 16;7(286):587-8, 590, 592-3. French. PMID: 21510342.
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1Sharma, L. (2021). Osteoarthritis of the knee. New England Journal of Medicine.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp1903768Allen, K. D., Thoma, L. M., & Golightly, Y. M. (2022). Epidemiology of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1063458421008864Mobasheri, A., & Batt, M. (2016). An update on the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis. Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877065716300847