Bones, joints and muscles

A plain-English guide to carpal tunnel syndrome — numb, tingling hands — and what helps.

Fibromyalgia — widespread pain, fatigue, and brain fog explained: diagnosis, NHS treatments, and distinguishing from other conditions.

A plain-English guide to frozen shoulder — symptoms, stages, treatment and recovery timeline.

A plain-English guide to gout — symptoms, triggers, treatment and when to see a GP.

Lupus (SLE) — butterfly rash, joint pain, fatigue, diagnosis with blood tests, and NHS treatment with hydroxychloroquine and specialist care.

A plain-English guide to osteoarthritis — symptoms, causes, treatment and self-care.

Osteoporosis — fragile bones, fracture risk, DEXA scanning, prevention with calcium, vitamin D, and NHS treatments.

A plain-English guide to plantar fasciitis — heel pain — and the steps that genuinely help.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) — joint pain and swelling, morning stiffness, diagnosis, NHS DMARD treatment, and when to see a GP urgently.

A plain-English guide to vitamin D deficiency — symptoms, who is at risk, testing and treatment in the UK.

What causes back pain, what actually helps recovery, and the red flags that need urgent attention.

Hip pain in adults is often caused by osteoarthritis or bursitis. Where it is felt helps find the cause, and being unable to bear weight after a fall needs A&E.

Joint pain is usually caused by injury, overuse or osteoarthritis and often eases with rest and simple painkillers. Persistent or swollen joints need a GP.

Knee pain is often caused by overuse, sports injury or osteoarthritis. Learn the common causes, self-care that helps, and when locking or swelling needs a GP.

Leg pain is usually caused by muscle strain or cramps, but one-sided swelling can signal DVT. Learn the common causes, self-care and when to get urgent help.

Muscle pain (myalgia) is usually caused by overuse, tension or viral illness and eases with rest — severe pain with dark urine needs urgent review.

Neck pain is usually caused by muscle strain or poor posture and settles within a few weeks — a stiff neck with fever needs urgent assessment for meningitis.

Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back down the leg, usually caused by a bulging disc pressing on a nerve. Most cases improve in four to six weeks.

Shoulder pain is often caused by rotator cuff problems or frozen shoulder and usually improves with physiotherapy over weeks. See a GP after an injury.

Co-codamol combines paracetamol and codeine for moderate pain, but codeine can cause constipation and dependence with prolonged everyday use.

Codeine is an opioid painkiller and cough suppressant that the body converts to morphine, and it carries a risk of dependence over prolonged use.

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory painkiller (NSAID) used for pain, swelling and fever, best taken with food at the lowest effective dose for you.

Naproxen is an NSAID painkiller that reduces pain and inflammation; how to take it safely, side effects, and heart, kidney and stomach cautions.

Paracetamol is a painkiller that eases mild to moderate pain and fever; how to take it safely, and why never exceeding the recommended dose matters.

Prednisolone is an oral steroid that suppresses inflammation in asthma, arthritis and autoimmune conditions; long courses need tapering and monitoring.

An MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves, not radiation, to produce detailed images of the brain, spine, joints and soft tissues inside the body.

An X-ray uses low-dose radiation to image bones and some tissues, quickly detecting fractures, chest infections and joint disease in most cases.