Joint pain: causes and what to do

According to MedlinePlus, common causes include the ones below. If what you feel is a muscle that suddenly tightens and hurts, see muscle cramps.

• Osteoarthritis, the wear of the joints with age: see osteoarthritis
• Gout, from uric acid crystals, classically in the big toe: see gout
• Injuries, sprains and overuse, as in the knee, ankle or shoulder: see knee pain, sprained ankle and shoulder pain
• Tendinitis and bursitis, inflammation of the tendons or the sacs that cushion the joint: see tendinitis
• Viral infections, such as dengue, chikungunya or the flu
• Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
• An infection inside the joint (septic arthritis), which is urgent

MedlinePlus lists swelling, warmth, tenderness, redness and pain with movement as signs of joint inflammation.

A single hot, red, swollen joint with fever: septic arthritis comes on quickly, with fever and intense pain that gets worse with movement, usually in one joint (often the knee or hip). It needs care the same day, in person: go to the ER.

Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour, in the same joints on both sides of the body (fingers, wrists, knees, feet): according to MedlinePlus, this is common in rheumatoid arthritis. See a doctor for testing.

For joint pain that is not from arthritis, MedlinePlus recommends both rest and exercise, warm baths, massage and stretching. Acetaminophen can ease the pain; anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen can relieve pain and swelling, but don’t take them if you have a fever and it could be dengue. Talk to a doctor before giving aspirin or ibuprofen to a child.

According to MedlinePlus, see a doctor if you have a fever without flu symptoms, have lost 10 pounds or more without trying, the pain lasts more than several days, or you have severe, unexplained pain and swelling.

You see Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, a Puerto Rico-licensed general practice physician with several years of emergency-department experience, in English or Spanish. She asks which joint hurts, whether it is on one side or both, whether it started suddenly, whether there was an injury, whether you have fever or a rash, and whether you are stiff in the morning and for how long. On camera she asks you to move the joint and show it to her.

We evaluate, diagnose and treat. If needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you: for example a blood count, sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, uric acid, rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies, or a dengue or chikungunya test. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances. If you need an X-ray, an in-person exam or a rheumatologist, we refer you.

An online doctor visit costs US$79, the same price for every age. If the patient is under 21, a parent or legal guardian stays on camera for the whole visit and shows ID.