Could Sudden Onset Joint Pain Indicate Something Really Serious?
Painful joints are extremely common, especially as we age or after repetitive use.
Not every case of joint pain builds up slowly over time the way osteoarthritis or use injuries do, however.
If you are experiencing sudden onset joint pain that did not come from a traumatic injury, you might be suffering from an infection, immune problem or other serious issue.
Here is a look at some of the possibilities, how to treat them, and how to decide whether you need to see a doctor.
Gout While most people think of this condition as a historical disease, gout still happens today.
It can cause sudden onset joint pain when crystals of uric acid build up inside a joint, especially in the legs.
Gout is aggravated by consuming large amounts of herring, organ meats and similar foods, but it can happen even in people who do not eat these regularly.
Acute gout happens in one joint, while chronic gout tends to occur regularly and may attack more than one joint, causing redness and heat along with a throbbing pain.
You might go months to years between episodes, especially if you control your weight and choose anti-inflammatory drugs and supplements such as vitamin C or green-lipped mussel powder.
Avoid taking aspirin, which can actually make the condition a lot worse.
Lupus Lupus is an immune condition in which the body attacks its own connective tissue, blood vessels, skin and other tissues.
It can result in sudden pain and swelling around the joints, along with fatigue, chest pain, sensitivity to the sun and sudden fevers.
In many cases, a bright red butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose also appears.
Without treatment it is sometimes fatal, but most people can control it with immunosuppressants and lifestyle changes.
Septic Arthritis If your sudden joint pain is much worse when you try to move your joint through its full range of motion and is accompanied by heat, swelling and a fever, it might be due to an infection.
Septic arthritis occurs when fungus or bacteria get into the joint, causing it to react painfully.
This often happens when you already have another infection somewhere else on your body and the micro-organisms responsible for that infection spread to your knee, hip, shoulder, ankle or wrist.
Septic arthritis happens most often in very young or old people and can usually be treated with antibiotics or anti-fungal medication.
If you have been suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, it might be time to look more closely at your joint pain problems.
Take a little time to consult your doctor or another medical professional, and make sure to avoid excessive exertion or anything that might increase inflammation and pain in your joint.
Getting treatment right away is important for all these different causes of sudden joint pain.
Not every case of joint pain builds up slowly over time the way osteoarthritis or use injuries do, however.
If you are experiencing sudden onset joint pain that did not come from a traumatic injury, you might be suffering from an infection, immune problem or other serious issue.
Here is a look at some of the possibilities, how to treat them, and how to decide whether you need to see a doctor.
Gout While most people think of this condition as a historical disease, gout still happens today.
It can cause sudden onset joint pain when crystals of uric acid build up inside a joint, especially in the legs.
Gout is aggravated by consuming large amounts of herring, organ meats and similar foods, but it can happen even in people who do not eat these regularly.
Acute gout happens in one joint, while chronic gout tends to occur regularly and may attack more than one joint, causing redness and heat along with a throbbing pain.
You might go months to years between episodes, especially if you control your weight and choose anti-inflammatory drugs and supplements such as vitamin C or green-lipped mussel powder.
Avoid taking aspirin, which can actually make the condition a lot worse.
Lupus Lupus is an immune condition in which the body attacks its own connective tissue, blood vessels, skin and other tissues.
It can result in sudden pain and swelling around the joints, along with fatigue, chest pain, sensitivity to the sun and sudden fevers.
In many cases, a bright red butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose also appears.
Without treatment it is sometimes fatal, but most people can control it with immunosuppressants and lifestyle changes.
Septic Arthritis If your sudden joint pain is much worse when you try to move your joint through its full range of motion and is accompanied by heat, swelling and a fever, it might be due to an infection.
Septic arthritis occurs when fungus or bacteria get into the joint, causing it to react painfully.
This often happens when you already have another infection somewhere else on your body and the micro-organisms responsible for that infection spread to your knee, hip, shoulder, ankle or wrist.
Septic arthritis happens most often in very young or old people and can usually be treated with antibiotics or anti-fungal medication.
If you have been suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, it might be time to look more closely at your joint pain problems.
Take a little time to consult your doctor or another medical professional, and make sure to avoid excessive exertion or anything that might increase inflammation and pain in your joint.
Getting treatment right away is important for all these different causes of sudden joint pain.
Source...