How to deal with joint pain

In some cases, your joint pain will require you to see a doctor. You should make an appointment if you don’t know the cause of your joint pain and are experiencing other unexplained symptoms.

You should also see a doctor if:

the area around the joint is swollen, red, tender, or warm to the touch

the pain persists for three days or more

you have a fever but no other signs of the flu

Go to the emergency room if any of the following occurs:

You’ve experienced a serious injury.

The joint appears deformed.

Swelling of the joint occurs suddenly.

The joint is completely immobile.

You have severe joint pain.

How is joint pain diagnosed?

Your doctor will probably perform a physical exam. They’ll also ask you a series of questions about your joint pain. This may help to narrow down the potential causes.

A joint X-ray may be necessary to identify arthritis-related joint damage.

If your doctor suspects there’s another cause, they may order a blood test to screen for certain autoimmune disorders. They may also request a sedimentation rate test to measure the level of inflammation in the body or a complete blood count.