Swollen joints

General or Other | Rheumatology | Swollen joints (Symptom)


Description

Inflamed joints refer to the enlargement of the joints, usually as a result of inflammation or injury of the joint or surrounding structures.

Causes

Joint swelling may be accompanied by other symptoms such as stiffness, pain, redness, heat, and the apparent loss of joint motion. Depending on the exact cause swelling of the joints can occur together, individually, or multiple swollen joints in the body can be involved at some point. Arthritis is in many cases the common cause of inflammation in the joints.

Many people with arthritis notice problems in the body in other places besides the joints. There is usually more generalized discomfort, such as muscle aches, feeling of tightness (mainly in the morning), fatigue and a slight fever. Sometimes the disease can affect other parts of the body, such as the eyes, nerves or the lungs, although these changes are generally mild. The inflamed joints are associated with rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that varies greatly from patient to patient, so the doctor must carry individualized analysis in each case.

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