Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | General Medical Information | General Adult Health

Joint swelling

Definition

Joint swelling is the build up of fluid in the soft tissue surrounding the joint.

Alternative Names

Swelling of a joint

Considerations

Joint swelling may occur along with joint pain.

Common Causes

• Osteoarthritis
• Trauma
• Acute gouty arthritis (gout)
• Chronic gouty arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Enteropathic arthropathy
• Infection
• Ludwig's angina
• Pseudogout
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Reiter's syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Hemarthrosis

Home Care

For unexplained soft tissue joint swelling, contact your health care provider. Follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause.

Call your health care provider if

Call your health care provider if any of the following occurs:

• Severe, unexplained joint pain
• Severe, unexplained stiffness or swelling, especially if accompanied by other unexplained symptoms

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination. The joint(s) will be closely examined. You will be asked questions about your joint swelling, such as:

• Location
  • Which joint is swollen?
  • Is more than one joint swollen?
• Time pattern
  • When did the joint swelling develop?
  • Is it always swollen or does it come and go?
  • Is this the first time you have had swollen joints?
• Quality
  • How swollen is the area?
  • If you press over the swollen area with a finger, does it leave a dent after you take the finger away?
• Aggravating factors
  • What makes the swelling worse?
  • Is it any worse in the morning or at night?
  • Does exercise make it worse?
• Relieving factors
  • What make the swelling better?
  • Does elevating the affected body part make the swelling go down?
  • Is it better if you use an elastic wrap?
  • What home treatment have you tried? How effective was it?
• Other
  • What other symptoms are also present?
  • Is there joint pain?
  • Is there fever?
  • Is there a rash?

Tests to diagnose the cause of joint swelling may include:

• Blood studies (such as a CBC or blood differential)
• Joint x-rays
• Joint aspiration and examination of joint fluid

Physical therapy for muscle and joint rehabilitation may be recommended.

Review Date:9/21/2006
Reviewed By:Jeffrey Kauffman, MD, Sacramento Knee and Sports Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.