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What Causes Joint Swelling?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Joint swelling occurs when fluid builds up in the area around a joint. There are many different things that cause this, many of which also lead to stiffness, discomfort, and outright pain. One of the most common causes of joint swelling is arthritis. In addition to swelling, you may experience joint pain, stiffness, red skin around the affected joints, and difficulty moving the joint if you have arthritis. The condition occurs when cartilage around a joint breaks down and allows the bones to rub together.

Gout is another condition that may cause swelling. With this condition, symptoms start suddenly and often occur in the middle of the night; the affected person typically has no warning that an attack of gout is about to begin. Besides swollen joints, symptoms of gout include redness around the affected joints and pain. The intense pain typically lasts for as little as five days or as many as 10 days, if left untreated. Gout most often affects the joint in the big toe, but it can also wreak havoc on joints in the feet, ankles, and knees; hand and wrist joints may be affected as well.

Arthritis is a common cause of joint swelling.
Arthritis is a common cause of joint swelling.

Sometimes infections, which may be viral, bacterial, or fungal in nature, cause swelling. For example, a rare fungal infection called blastomycosis can cause swelling as well as general discomfort, coughing, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, joint stiffness, skin lesions and rashes, chest pain and a range of other symptoms. This infection can be fatal if left untreated.

Gout is a common cause of toe joint swelling.
Gout is a common cause of toe joint swelling.

Septic arthritis causes joint swelling but is caused by bacteria. Its other symptoms include intense joint pain, redness, low-grade fever, and an inability to move the part of the body that houses the affected joint. With antibiotic treatment, chances of recovery from this condition are good. If the condition is allowed to worsen without treatment, however, the affected joint may be permanently damaged.

Septic arthritis causes joint swelling.
Septic arthritis causes joint swelling.

Rheumatoid arthritis is another common cause of swollen joints. This serious autoimmune condition is marked by an immune system that attacks healthy body tissues. It typically strikes people who are between 25 and 55 and is mostly found in women. No one is sure of the exact cause of this form of arthritis, but genes and infections have both been implicated. Hormones may play a role as well.

Injuries may cause joint swelling.
Injuries may cause joint swelling.

Besides joint swelling, a person with this condition may experience appetite loss, low-grade fever, limited movement, redness and inflammation of the skin, swollen glands and numbness. A person with rheumatoid arthritis may also have eyes that itch, burn or seep discharge. Symptoms also include anemia and severely damaged or even destroyed joints. A person with this disease will need treatment for his entire life, and the average life span of a person with this disease may be shortened by several years.

Exercise therapy can be used to help relieve joint pain and swelling in older adults.
Exercise therapy can be used to help relieve joint pain and swelling in older adults.

Sometimes, an injury, such as a broken bone, may cause swelling. If the swelling is caused by anything other than a minor injury, you should seek medical attention right away. If you don't have an obvious injury or your injury is mild, call your doctor if the swelling lasts for longer than a week or the affected joint is red and hot. Always call your doctor if your joint swelling is accompanied by fever or chills. Likewise, seek immediate medical attention if your joint is punctured.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Drentel

I have had several episodes of gout attacks. This runs in my family, so I am most likely in for more of these attacks down the road. The gout causes joint swelling in my foot. The big toe joints are where the most pain occurs. The pain feels like a razor blade is on the inside of my big toe trying to cut its way out.

This article mentions that the gout attacks can last five to ten days. I can't imagine what that is going to be like. So far my attacks have lasted for a matter of minutes not days, and they are trying enough. The swelling lasts longer, but the pain is what is so difficult to handle.

Sporkasia

When I was 12 years old, I played in a local tennis tournament in the open division. Before this, I had entered many tennis tournaments. This tournament was special because I was playing with players from all age groups instead of just competing against other girls my age. I was very excited and a little nervous, too.

Once I started my first match I didn't have time to be nervous. I was playing really well and then I went back to retrieve a lob and stepped into a little hole beneath the fence. My ankle rolled over and I knew it was bad.

I couldn't walk at first, and my ankle hurt like crazy. However, after several minutes I was able to get up and walk around, After a couple more minutes I felt okay, and I continued playing. I played two more matches that day and I won them all.

The next morning I was scheduled to play my next match early. When I got out of bed, I immediately fell to the floor. My ankle gave away. The area around the ankle joint was swollen to the size of a couple softballs and my foot was very red. The day before, my ankle had felt better the more I played on it, but in hindsight I see that all the extra playing caused more joint pain and swelling.

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    • Arthritis is a common cause of joint swelling.
      By: Denis Pepin
      Arthritis is a common cause of joint swelling.
    • Gout is a common cause of toe joint swelling.
      By: Alila Medical Media
      Gout is a common cause of toe joint swelling.
    • Septic arthritis causes joint swelling.
      By: Tracy Whiteside
      Septic arthritis causes joint swelling.
    • Injuries may cause joint swelling.
      By: Maridav
      Injuries may cause joint swelling.
    • Exercise therapy can be used to help relieve joint pain and swelling in older adults.
      By: nyul
      Exercise therapy can be used to help relieve joint pain and swelling in older adults.
    • Excess weight placed on the joints may cause them to swell.
      By: Dave
      Excess weight placed on the joints may cause them to swell.
    • Joint swelling may be reduced with the use of an ice pack.
      By: michelaubryphoto
      Joint swelling may be reduced with the use of an ice pack.
    • A rare fungal infection known as blastomycosis can cause joint swelling and discomfort, with other symptoms like shortness of breath.
      By: DURIS Guillaume
      A rare fungal infection known as blastomycosis can cause joint swelling and discomfort, with other symptoms like shortness of breath.