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The structure of a joint

Overview Treatment

Joint swelling

Alternative Names:

Swelling of a joint; Knee swelling; Toe swelling; Finger swelling; Hip swelling

Home Care:

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

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Call your health care provider if:

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 health care provider's office:

Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting joint swelling may include the following:

• Location
  • Which joint is swollen?
    • Is it the big toe?
    • Is the jaw or neck swollen?
  • Are multiple joints swollen?
• Time pattern
  • When did the joint swelling develop?
  • Is it always present or off and on?
  • 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?

The physical examination will include a detailed examination of the affected joint(s).

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:

• Blood studies (such as a CBC or blood differential)
• Joint X-rays

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