Osteoarthritis can cause painful joint movement. A joint is where two bones meet. A synovial joint is surrounded by a tough capsule that protects and supports it. The joint capsule is lined with a synovial membrane. This membrane produces a slippery fluid. Within the joint capsule, the ends of the two bones are covered with a smooth elastic tissue known as cartilage. This prevents your bones from rubbing and grinding against each other. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber as well, cushioning the ends of your bones and distributing stress evenly across your bones. When pieces of bone and cartilage break off and float around a joint, this can cause pain as soft tissue is disturbed. As cartilage wears down and bones rub together, more pain is produced.

Osteoarthritis can cause painful fractures. Fractures will usually heal within three months, relieving the pain. If the pain continues beyond that time it is considered to be chronic pain. Chronic pain is often associated with a verterbral facture. Often intense pain and muscle spasms will persist long after the actual fracture is healed.

Osteoporosis can be a cause of fatigue that results from the disease process. This makes the pain seem even more unbearable and every movement more difficult. Depression can also result from the lack of mobility and inability to do what you were once capable of.