is crucial to continuing
Maintaining mobility and flexibility are crucial to living a full life. But stiff, sore, or painful joints can get in the way—and in many cases, inflammation is the cause. Being able to recognize the signs of joint inflammation can help you pinpoint the cause, get the treatment you need, and return to your full mobility as quickly as you can.
“Joint inflammation can result from many underlying conditions, both acute and chronic,” explains David Kruse, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles. The most common acute reason is an injury to the tissue surrounding the joint, he says, which will prompt the immune system to initiate healing (this is the good, natural type of inflammation). “The most common reason for chronic inflammation is a degenerative process of the joint, commonly referred to as ‘arthritis,’” Dr. Kruse says. “It is important to realize that the term arthritis is a generic one and can refer to a few different types of arthritis, but the most common is the degenerative process of osteoarthritis.”
Meet the experts: David Kruse, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles; Gbolahan Okubadejo, M.D., a spine surgeon and head of The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New Jersey.
While these are the most common causes, there are a few other processes that can contribute to inflammation in the joints, according to Gbolahan Okubadejo, M.D., a spine surgeon and head of The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care in New Jersey. These include a diet high in sugar or processed foods, bacterial or viral infections, obesity, overuse or repetitive strain, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic autoimmune condition.
Read on to discover the most noticeable signs of joint inflammation, plus some simple strategies for easing symptoms.
Common signs of joint inflammation
According to our experts, the most common signs of joint inflammation include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Warmth
- Stiffness
- Difficulty moving the joint
That said, symptoms may vary based on the joint. “Small joints like fingers may show more obvious swelling and redness, while larger, deeper joints like the hip might have significant pain but less visible changes,” explains Dr. Okubadejo. “Weight-bearing joints, such as knees, often feel stiff and sore during movement.”
Likewise, the cause of the inflammation determines whether you see signs in more than one joint. “If the cause of inflammation is a degenerative process, specific to a particular joint, then the inflammation can be isolated to that joint,” Dr. Kruse says. The same may be true of an injury. On the other hand, systemic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis may affect multiple joints, notes Dr. Okubadejo. “Infections or gout might start in one joint but can spread,” he adds. “So just because one joint is swollen, it doesn’t mean the others are too. But it’s still smart to watch for pain or swelling in other joints.” If you’re not sure what’s behind your symptoms, watching to see if they spread to other joints can be a powerful push in the right direction.
How to ease symptoms and reduce inflammation
If you’ve noticed any of the above signs of joint inflammation and they’re disrupting your quality of life, it’s worth giving your doctor a call. “Safe, appropriate, and effective treatment is very much dependent on working with a healthcare professional to identify the underlying cause of the inflammation,” says Dr. Kruse. Still, there are some things you can do in the meantime to reduce symptoms and inflammation. Our experts suggest the following:
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Apply ice or heat. “Ice can reduce swelling and numb pain, and heat can help relax stiff muscles around the joint,” says Dr. Okubadejo. “Use for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.”
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Try topical anti-inflammatory and pain medication, suggests Dr. Kruse. Per the Cleveland Clinic, these include gels and creams made with ingredients like diclofenac, capsaicin, and menthol.
- Rest. “Give the joint a break from activities that make it hurt. Avoid heavy lifting or high-impact movements,” Dr. Okubadejo suggests. “Light movement, like gentle stretching, is okay.”
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Consider your posture. If you have pain in a weight-bearing joint, such as your hip or knee, poor posture can exacerbate inflammation. “Sitting or standing the right way takes pressure off your joints. Slouching can make pain worse,” explains Dr. Okubadejo. “Pay attention to how you move throughout the day.”
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