1. HEADACHES

The two most frequently seen conditions causing head pain are

1) Tension headaches which are usually a result of underlying neck dysfunction and can be almost incessant ,and

2) Migraine which tends to follow a period of visual disturbance or nausea and is very intense and usually felt on one side.

2. JAW

Imbalance in the jaw muscles or an uneven bite can cause jaw joint pain felt in the front of the ear. Occasionally the joint can become arthritic and is known as Costen’s Syndrome.

3. CHEST

Chest pain may be indicative of underlying heart disease and you should consult your GP initially. However it can also be caused by acid reflux (Heartburn), from the stomach. Mechanical causes are local muscle strain, rib injury or pain referred from your back, between the shoulder blades.

4. SHOULDER

The joint at the end of the collar bone (clavicle) can become strained, worn or dislocated, and cause local pain over the bone at the top of the shoulder.

Commonly tendonitis affects the rotator cuff or biceps muscles, tendons near the shoulder with pain felt on moving the arm and is felt on the front or side of the shoulder.

Frozen shoulder can be very painful and very restrictive condition with often pain felt down to the elbow. Arm mobility is commonly limited to below 70 degrees of elevation.

5. TENNIS ELBOW

Even if you do not play tennis you may suffer from tennis elbow which is felt on the outside of the joint and can radiate down the back of the arm to the wrist. It is essentially a musculo-tendinous overstrain caused by repetitive movements of the hand and wrist whist gripping hard.

6. WRIST
Ligament strain around the wrist joint causes local pain and tenderness.
Tendinitis on the thumb side of the wrist which is often diagnosed by swelling of the tendons in the area and a grinding sensation when moving the thumb.

7. HAND 
Pain in the fingers may be local arthritis or simple strain to the
joints or may involve referred nerve pain. Examples of this are
entrapment of the nerve at the wrist, termed carpal tunnel syndrome or
problems with the neck which can refer nerve pain to the fingers.

8. PUBIS

Strain of the pubic joint in the pelvis is usually found in latter stage
of pregnancy and is due to joint laxity as the pelvis gears up for child birth. This condition can make walking very difficult. 

9. SCIATICA

The name given to the pain radiating down the back of the leg as a result of damage or pressure to the sciatic nerve in the buttock or the origin of the nerve in the spine. Most commonly caused by a slipped disc in the lumbar spine.

10. LUMBAR SPINE 

There are many causes for low back pain and these include ligament and muscle strain, facet joint inflammation and slipped disc. If the disc is badly damaged it may compress a nerve in your spine and produce leg pain commonly called sciatica.

11. SI JOINT

Pain in this area is not indicative of hip problems but instead is the commonest area for pain referral in low back problems of variable nature. It can also indicate a problem with a large pelvic joint called the Sacro-iliac joint, and this pain is frequently felt on walking and can radiate to the groin or buttock crease.

12. THORACIC SPINE

Pain in this area is often muscular in origin and commonly found in those with seated occupations. Poor posture and lack of flexibility here can also lead to joint problems. The area from the neck to the shoulder blades is often a site of referred pain from neck problems.

13. GOLFERS ELBOW

Golfer’s elbow is a musculo-tendinous injury which is felt on the inside of the joint but rarely radiates pain down the arm. Caused by overload of the forearm muscles while gripping hard

14. GROIN PAIN

Hip degeneration is perhaps the commonest cause of diffuse pain in this area, but beware; you may have a hernia, especially if you feel discomfort on coughing or sneezing. The low back and sacro-iliac joints may also refer pain to this area.

15. HIP

Localised pain here can indicate hip problems, a local inflammation called Bursitis or can simply be a referred pain from you lower back.

16. TOES

Toe pain may be the result of a trapped nerve in your back, local arthritis in the joints or in some cases a trapped nerve in the ball of the foot. The toes affected allow us to differentiate between these different conditions.

17. ANKLE

Strain to the ligaments here is very common, especially if you roll over on your foot. The resulting pain and swelling often takes several months to resolve.

18. ACHILES TENDON

An injury to this tendon is commonly seen in middle age ex athletes returning to their sports. Injury can result in small tears felt as painful lumps on the tendon, or a sudden rupture resulting in inability to use the foot.

19. NECK

Tension in the neck muscles can cause simple muscular pain.
Pain in the tiny facet joints in the neck often cause one sided pain and restriction of movement, with discomfort often radiating across the shoulder or down between the shoulder blades.
Slipped disc causes neck pain and some stiffness and this is often accompanied by pain in the arm which can extend to the hand on the affected side.

20. KNEE

The most complicated joint in the body, and perhaps the most
frequently injured. If your knee is not sore, swollen or gives no pain when moved but still has an ache in it you may be experiencing referred pain from the hip or low back.

Injuries to the knee include ligament strain on either side of the knee or to the cruciate ligaments deep inside the knee. Also inside the knee are semi lunar shaped cartilages called menisci. These can tear and cause pain, swelling and sometimes locking. Arthritic changes in the knee or knee cap are also painful conditions often resulting in swelling.