In osteoarthritis, damage to cartilage impairs its function and leads to joint pain and stiffness. Pain is the body's warning system, alerting you that something is wrong. How these factors are combined contributes to the intensity of the pain. The pain of arthritis varies greatly from person to person, for reasons that doctors do not yet understand completely. Swelling within the joint, the amount of heat present, and damage within the joint are all factors that may contribute to pain.
Activity can also affect joint pain.
Each individual has a different level of tolerance for pain. Even in the same individual, this tolerance can vary at different times of the day. Factors that can affect an individual's tolerance for pain include depression, anxiety, and hypersensitivity at the affected joints due to inflammation and tissue injury. One strategy for obtaining short-term pain relief is to apply heat or cold to the aching joint. The decision to use either heat or cold for arthritis pain depends on which factors are causing your pain and how well you respond to this method.