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 direct pain. One of the most common causes of joint inflammation is arthritis. In addition to swelling, you may experience joint pain, stiffness, red skin around affected joints, and difficulty moving the joint if you have arthritis. The condition occurs when the cartilage around a joint breaks down and allows the bones to rub together.
Gout is another condition that can cause swelling. With this condition, symptoms begin suddenly and often occur in the middle of the night; the affected person is usually unaware that an attack of gout is about to begin. In addition to swollen joints, gout symptoms include redness around affected joints and pain. Severe pain usually lasts as little as five days or as long as 10 days, if left untreated. Gout most often affects the big toe joint, but it can also wreak havoc on joints in the feet, ankles, and knees; the hand and wrist joints may also be affected.
Sometimes infections, which can be viral, bacterial, or fungal in nature, cause joint inflammation. For example, a rare fungal infection called blastomycosis can cause swelling as well as general discomfort, cough, shortness of breath, fever, fatigue, joint stiffness, skin lesions and rashes, chest pain, and a variety of other symptoms. This infection can be fatal if left untreated.
Septic arthritis causes joint swelling, but it is caused by bacteria. Its other symptoms include severe joint pain, redness, a low-grade fever, and the inability to move the part of the body that houses the affected joint. With antibiotic treatment, the chances of recovery from this condition are good. However, if the condition is allowed to worsen without treatment, the affected joint may be permanently damaged.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another common cause of swollen joints. This serious autoimmune condition is marked by an immune system attacking healthy tissues in the body. It usually affects people between the ages of 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 infection have been implicated. Hormones may also play a role.
In addition to joint inflammation, a person with this condition may experience loss of appetite, low-grade fever, limited movement, redness and swelling of the skin, swollen glands, and numbness. A person with rheumatoid arthritis may also have eyes that itch, burn, or discharge. Symptoms also include anemia and severely damaged or even destroyed joints. A person with this disease will need treatment throughout their life, and the average lifespan of a person with this disease can be shortened by several years.
Sometimes an injury, such as a broken bone, can cause joint swelling. If the swelling is caused by something other than a minor injury, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you have no obvious injury or your injury is minor, call your doctor if the swelling lasts for more than a week or if the affected joint is red and hot. Always call your doctor if your joint swelling is accompanied by a fever or chills. Similarly, seek immediate medical attention if your joint is punctured.