Swelling occurs because of excess fluid that collects in the tissues of the body. The most common places for swelling are the hands, feet, arms, legs and ankles, as reported by MayoClinic.com. Many medical conditions, medications and lifestyle activities cause swelling in the extremities.

Gout is a disorder in which uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. The sharp edges of these crystals irritate the soft tissue of the joints, and cause inflammation and pain. Uric acid crystals are the waste products formed when purines, which are part of the nucleic acids that make up the genes, break down.

Icy Hot is the brand name of a line of over-the-counter products used to temporarily relieve joint or muscle pain associated with many conditions, including cramps, bruises, sprains, muscle strains, backaches and arthritis. Although Icy Hot products are available over the counter, they may be dangerous if misused.

Hip replacement surgery usually results in a joint that will last for 15 years or more. Around 200,000 surgeries occur annually with the main goal to reduce pain from hip disease, according to the Georgetown University Hospital Joint Reconstruction Center.

Tendonitis is the inflammation of the muscle tendon, occurring because of age, overuse or repetitive use of the joint tendon. The wrist, elbow heel, and shoulder are common areas for tendonitis, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Whey protein is a type of nutritional supplement made from cow's milk and is used by athletes to aid in muscle recovery following intense bouts of resistance training. Whey is also promoted as a general health supplement to help prevent or correct a protein deficiency in your diet.

Although many people find relief from chronic headaches by undertaking a healthy eating and exercise schedule, an unlucky few find that working out causes sharp head pain. Rather than ignoring this symptom and powering through the pain, consult your doctor to rule out serious causes.

Your knee may look like a simple structure from the outside, but on the inside it's a joint that's made up of many components, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Because your knee is so complex, it's highly susceptible to various injuries.

Bunions are bumps that develop beside the big toe's bottom joint. When the big toe is under consistent pressure, the bones can begin to shift. The toe slants inward, causing the joint to distend outward. Bunions can be very painful, and they tend to develop further over time. In extreme cases, they may require surgery.

Thumb and wrist pain can significantly interfere with your daily activities. The bones, joints, ligaments and tendons in the thumb and wrist can all suffer injury or inflammation that leads to pain.

An ACL -- or anterior cruciate ligament -- injury is one of the most common knee injuries seen. These injuries usually occur in athletes who participate in high-impact sports including basketball, soccer and football. Surgery is often required to repair an ACL injury.

Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons from muscles that originate from your shoulder blade. According to the Mayo Clinic, your rotator cuff helps hold your upper arm bone in your shoulder socket and results in the greatest range of motion of any joint in your body.