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Joint swelling

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Swelling of a joint

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.

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