MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Joint swelling

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Joint swelling

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative Names Definition Considerations	Causes Home Care When to Contact a Medical Professional What to Expect at Your Office Visit

Illustrations

The structure of a joint

Alternative Names Return to top

Swelling of a joint

Definition Return to top

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

Considerations Return to top

Joint swelling may occur along with joint pain.

Causes Return to top

Home Care Return to top

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

When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top

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 Office Visit Return to top

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.

Update Date: 9/21/2006

Updated by: Jeffrey Kauffman, MD, Sacramento Knee and Sports Medicine, Sacramento, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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