Almost everyone has an achy joint now and then, after a long hike, a new workout, or a day of gardening. Often it settles down on its own. But some signs are worth getting checked by a qualified health professional.
This article is general information. It can’t tell you what is happening in your own body.
Signs worth getting checked
Consider contacting a health professional if you notice:
- Joint pain that lasts more than a few weeks, or keeps coming back.
- Swelling, warmth or redness around a joint.
- Stiffness in the morning that takes a long time to ease.
- Pain or swelling in several joints at once.
- A joint that looks a different shape, or that you can’t move as well as usual.
- Joint pain along with fever, feeling unwell, unexplained weight loss, or a rash.
Get help right away if
Seek urgent medical care if a joint is suddenly very painful, hot and swollen, especially if you also have a fever, or if a joint looks deformed or you can’t use it after an injury. If you think you have an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Getting ready for an appointment
It can help to jot down a few notes before you go:
- Which joints are bothering you, and when it started.
- What makes it better or worse.
- Any other symptoms you’ve noticed.
- Questions you’d like to ask.
A health professional can look at the full picture and talk with you about what’s going on and what to do next.