Symptom: Joint swelling

Introduction: Joint swelling

Joint swelling: One or more swollen joints. See free access online books about Joint swelling below. See detailed information below for a list of 79 causes of Joint swelling, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Joint swelling: full list

Causes of Joint swelling:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Joint swelling. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Joint injury
• Prior joint injury
• Joint inflammation
• Bursitis
• Housemaid's knee (type of Bursitis)
• Joint infection (see Joint symptoms)
  • Viral joint infection
  • Bacterial joint infection
  • Fungal joint infection
• Arthritis - see also types of arthritis and causes of arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
• Charcot joint
• See also causes of joint pain and stiff joints
• Rheumatic fever

See full list of 79 causes of Joint swelling

» Review Causes of Joint swelling: full list

Causes of Types of Joint swelling:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Joint swelling:

• Inflammatory joint effusion (7 causes)
• Heberden's nodes (1 cause)

More types of Joint swelling

Joint swelling: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Joint swelling, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Joint swelling: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Joint swelling and Arthritis-like symptoms (66 causes)
• Joint swelling and Joint pain (66 causes)
• Joint swelling and Joint symptoms (66 causes)
• Joint swelling and Swelling symptoms (66 causes)
• Joint swelling and Nerve symptoms (62 causes)
• Joint swelling and Pain (62 causes)
• Joint swelling and Sensations (62 causes)
• Joint swelling and Fever (34 causes)
• Joint swelling and Temperature symptoms (34 causes)
• Joint swelling and Movement symptoms (32 causes)
• Joint swelling and Skin symptoms (30 causes)
• Joint swelling and Skin problems (28 causes)
• Joint swelling and Body symptoms (28 causes)
• Joint swelling and Weight loss (28 causes)
• Joint swelling and Weight symptoms (27 causes)
• Joint swelling and Stiff joints (27 causes)
• Joint swelling and Stiffness (27 causes)
• Joint swelling and Fatigue (26 causes)
• Joint swelling and Muscle weakness (26 causes)
• Joint swelling and Digestive symptoms (24 causes)

See full list of 758 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Joint swelling

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Joint symptoms (721 causes)
• Swelling symptoms (2077 causes)
• Arthritis-like symptoms (451 causes)
• Joint pain (500 causes)
• Pain (3014 causes)
• Sensations (3186 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3495 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Joint swelling

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Joint swelling:

• Joint pain (500 causes)
• Stiff joints (178 causes)
• Joint symptoms (721 causes)
• Swelling (2077 causes)
• Knee swelling (16 causes)
• Ankle swelling (83 causes)
• Elbow swelling (18 causes)
• Wrist swelling (21 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Joint swelling

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Joint swelling from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Joint swelling. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Joint swelling

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Joint swelling

Psoriatic arthritis often undiagnosed cause of joint conditions: Patients with the skin condition psoriasis can also have the related arthritis subtype called "psoriatic arthritis". This arthritic condition tends to be overlooked, even in patients with diagnosed psoriasis. See misdiagnosis of arthritis or psoriasis....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Joint swelling

Diagnostic tests for Joint swelling:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Joint swelling. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • A systematic examination of the affected joint or joints looking for signs of inflammation, deformity, swelling and reduced range of motion - e.g. tenderness and warmth indicates inflammation; redness of the skin over the joint indicates gout, pseudogout, rheumatic fever or septic arthritis.
  • Note the pattern of the joints affected which can assist in diagnosis
  • Full physical examination looking for signs of systemic disease that can predispose or present with joint pain and swelling - e.g. rash and pitted nails of psoriasis; Raynaud's phenomenon of systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus; doughnut-shaped rash of Lyme disease; butterfly rash of systemic lupus erythematosus; abdominal tenderness of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; heart murmur of rheumatic fever or subacute bacterial endocarditis.
• Blood tests

See full list of 31 diagnostic tests for Joint swelling

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Joint swelling. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had joint swelling? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is the joint swelling located to one joint? - would suggest septic arthritis, gout, tuberculosis, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, trauma and pseudogout.
• If more than one joint is affected, which joints are involved?
• Is it symmetrical or asymmetrical joint swelling? - asymmetrical involvement is more typical of gout, rheumatic fever, hemophilia, bone cancer, septic arthritis and trauma. Symmetrical involvement is more characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
• Is the involvement primarily in small or large joints? - Involvement of the small joints is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis, gonococcal arthritis and Reiter's syndrome. Involvement of the larger joints is more characteristic of gout and osteoarthritis. However osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may involve both.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Joint swelling (35 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Joint swelling) may include:

• Joint pain? - If have joint swelling without pain, especially on motion, would suggest Charcot's disease (degenerative joint disease due to lack of protective pain sensation. May be associated with neurosyphilis, cauda equina lesion, diabetic neuropathy or syringomyelia).
• Fever? - may suggest septic arthritis, rheumatic fever, gonococcal arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, lupus erythematosus, Lyme arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, Still's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Urethral discharge? - would suggest Reiter's syndrome or gonococcal arthritis.
• Low back pain? - would suggest rheumatoid spondylitis, ochronosis or gout.
• Recent diarrhea? - may suggest enteropathic arthritis (such as due to Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) or Reiter's syndrome.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Joint swelling (35 listings)

Stories from Users for Joint swelling

Real-life user stories relating to Joint swelling:

• swollen glands and joint pain
• hand joint stiffness and swollen knuckles
• Swollen glands and stiff joints
• Help!! Joint pain and swollen glands!!
• Acromion Clavicle Joint Swelling
• Finger & Toe Joint Swelling
• joint swelling
• Swollen Joints Esp Fingers

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Joint swelling or relevant symptoms:

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Genitourinary (The urination system) (138)
  • Burning In Penis After Urination. Std/urine Culture = Negative
  • Blood in urine (hematuria)
  • I KEEP PEEING AND I DONT KNOW WHY!! Iplease some1 help me
  • Excessive Burping..
  • Swollen (enlarged)Kidneys, normal blood tests (no stones)Dr.'s not helping
  • More user stories
• Musculoskeletal (Muscles, joints and bones) (405)
  • Joint and muscular pain after taking chantix
  • Arm pain after sneezing
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Joint swelling, stiffness, severe foot pain
  • Muscle twitches/spasms
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories
• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
  • Symptoms of Cushing's - Tests all negative
  • Has anyone been diagnosed with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and are being treated??
  • Pitutary tumor
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

Videos for Joint swelling

Patient Surveys for Joint swelling

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Medications or substances causing Joint swelling:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Joint swelling as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Daraprim
• Maloprim
• Ceporex
• Austyn SR
• Alclox Capsules

See full list of 21 medications causing Joint swelling

Organs affected by Joint swelling:

The list of organs typically affected by Joint swelling may include, but is not limited to:

• Joint

Detailed list of causes of Joint swelling

The list below shows some of the causes of Joint swelling mentioned in various sources:

• Acanthocheilonemiasis - joint swelling
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia - joint swelling
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, adult - joint swelling
• Acute rheumatic fever - swollen joints
• Alkaptonuria - joint swelling

See full list of 79 causes of Joint swelling

How Common are these Causes of Joint swelling?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Joint swelling. Of the 79 causes of Joint swelling that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 3 causes are "very common" diseases
• 5 causes are "common" diseases
• 3 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 1 causes are "rare" diseases
• 8 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 64 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 79 causes of Joint swelling

Conditions listing symptoms: Joint swelling:

The following list of conditions have 'Joint swelling' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Joint swelling?

Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Joint swelling, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

• General practitioner
• Emergency physician
• Orthopaedic surgeon

Classifications of Joint swelling:

Subtypes of Joint swelling:

Inflammatory joint effusion, Heberden's nodes

Medical Conditions associated with Joint swelling:

Joint symptoms (514 causes), Swelling symptoms (2009 causes), Arthritis-like symptoms (426 causes), Joint pain (413 causes), Pain (2937 causes), Sensations (3159 causes), Nerve symptoms (3452 causes), Common symptoms (4528 causes)

Symptoms related to Joint swelling:

Joint pain (413 causes), Stiff joints (165 causes), Joint symptoms (514 causes), Swelling (2009 causes), Knee swelling (15 causes), Ankle swelling (50 causes), Elbow swelling (5 causes), Wrist swelling (11 causes)

Joint swelling as a disease:

You may also want to research other Diseases in our Disease Center.

Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

• What to tell your doctor about your symptoms
• What questions will the doctor ask about your symptoms (and why)?
• What does your doctor do in a physical examination?
• What questions should you ask the doctor about a symptom or diagnosis?
• What questions to ask the doctor about the treatment
• Steps to take to get the most out of a doctor visit
• More articles on symptoms and diagnosis

These general medical articles may be of interest:

• Medical Symptom Books
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis

See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

Medical News summaries about Joint swelling

Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Joint swelling and many other medical conditions:

• Connective tissue disease frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed
• Lupus diagnosis often takes 7 to 10 years
• Lupus often misdiagnosed as MS or rheumatoid arthritis

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