Table of ContentsView AllTable of Contents"How Arthritis Spreads"CausesSymptomsTreatmentLifestyle Changes
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
“How Arthritis Spreads”
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Lifestyle Changes
Migratory arthritis describes a pattern of arthritis symptoms and joint involvement. It is not a type of arthritis, per se, but the migratory pattern provides a clue about what type of arthritis is involved how the disease might progress.
This article covers migratory arthritis, its associated conditions, and how it is treated. It also discusses some of the lifestyle changes you can make to help control your symptoms.
Sebastian Meckelmann / E+ / Getty Images
How Does Arthritis Spread?
Migratory arthritis describes a condition in whicharthritis symptomslike pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and stiffness travel from one joint to another joint. It is associated with chronic inflammation.
How long does migratory arthritis last?Migratory arthritis lasts for varying times depending on the person and the cause of the condition.
How long does migratory arthritis last?
Migratory arthritis lasts for varying times depending on the person and the cause of the condition.
What Causes Migratory Arthritis?
The migratory pattern is often related to an underlying medical condition. These are some examples of conditions that may be associated with a migratory pattern of arthritis.
Infectious Arthritis
Gonococcal Arthritis
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic feveris an inflammatory disease that may affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin. It develops as a complication of infection with group A streptococcus.Usually, the streptococcus infection is located in the upper respiratory tract, such as strep throat or scarlet fever.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Different Types of Arthritis and Pain Characteristics
Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritisis an acutespondyloarthropathy, a type of arthritis that most often affects the spine. It occurs as a reaction to an infection elsewhere in the body.Aside from joint involvement, reactive arthritis is associated with redness and inflammation of the eyes and inflammation of the urinary tract.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease.Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other organs. It can mimic other types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases, making the disease difficult to diagnose.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoSLE rash.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Lupus Treatment Options
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, chronic diseases of the intestinal tract, are often grouped together asinflammatory bowel diseasebecause they share similar symptoms, although they differ in how they affect the digestive tract. Arthritis is the most common extra-intestinal complication associated with IBD.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosisis a disease that can occur throughout the body, but most commonly affects the lungs, lymph nodes, or skin. Inflammation causes lumps, or granulomas, to form in the body’s tissues.Granulomas, as they grow and clump, can affect how an organ works.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoSarcoidosis on facial skin.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Lyme Disease
With the early disseminated stage of Lyme disease, the infection spreads to the rest of the body in the weeks following the tick bite and may cause multiple problems, including joint pain. Late-stage infection, which may be months or years after onset, can lead to chronic arthritis.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLyme disease rash.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Common and Unusual Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Bacterial Endocarditis
Endocarditis, or infective endocarditis, is an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.The most common type, bacterial endocarditis, occurs when germs enter your heart. The germs travel through your bloodstream from another part of your body.
Endocarditis may be associated with a variety of symptoms, including joint pain.Bacterial endocarditis can damage your heart valves.
Whipple’s Disease
What Are the Symptoms of Migratory Arthritis?
The first symptom of migratory arthritis is usually pain in one or more joints. If the pain stops and then reappears in a different joint or joints, you may have migratory arthritis.
Some other symptoms of migratory arthritis include:
What to Know About Inflammatory Polyarthritis
How Do I Treat Migratory Arthritis Pain?
See a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of migratory arthritis. While pain medication can help manage the pain and inflammation, it is important to also treat the underlying cause.
Some medications that can help treat the pain of migratory arthritis include:
Lifestyle improvements can also help ease the symptoms of chronic migratory arthritis. Some of these adjustments include:
Summary
It is important to treat the underlying cause of migratory arthritis and to control the inflammation. Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and weight loss can also help.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merck Manual Professional Version.Acute infectious arthritis.Merck Manual Professional Version.Gonorrhea.National Organization of Rare Disorders.Rheumatic fever.American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Arthritis.National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Sarcoidosis.MedlinePlus.Lyme disease.MedlinePlus.Endocarditis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.Janson JA.Thiamazole: Migratory polyarthritis: case report.Reactions. 2015;1571:228-3.Arthritis Foundation.Topical NSAIDs offer joint pain relief.Promelle V, Goeb V, Gueudry J.Rheumatoid arthritis associated episcleritis and scleritis: an update on treatment perspectives.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2118. doi:10.3390/jcm10102118Hua C, Buttgereit F, Combe B.Glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis: current status and future studies.RMD Open. 2020;6(1):e000536. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2017-000536Arthritis Foundation.Weight loss benefits for arthritis.Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190Matriya PC.Polyarthritis.Osteopath Fam Physician. 2018;10(5):24-31.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merck Manual Professional Version.Acute infectious arthritis.Merck Manual Professional Version.Gonorrhea.National Organization of Rare Disorders.Rheumatic fever.American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Arthritis.National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Sarcoidosis.MedlinePlus.Lyme disease.MedlinePlus.Endocarditis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.Janson JA.Thiamazole: Migratory polyarthritis: case report.Reactions. 2015;1571:228-3.Arthritis Foundation.Topical NSAIDs offer joint pain relief.Promelle V, Goeb V, Gueudry J.Rheumatoid arthritis associated episcleritis and scleritis: an update on treatment perspectives.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2118. doi:10.3390/jcm10102118Hua C, Buttgereit F, Combe B.Glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis: current status and future studies.RMD Open. 2020;6(1):e000536. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2017-000536Arthritis Foundation.Weight loss benefits for arthritis.Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190Matriya PC.Polyarthritis.Osteopath Fam Physician. 2018;10(5):24-31.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Acute infectious arthritis.Merck Manual Professional Version.Gonorrhea.National Organization of Rare Disorders.Rheumatic fever.American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Arthritis.National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Sarcoidosis.MedlinePlus.Lyme disease.MedlinePlus.Endocarditis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.Janson JA.Thiamazole: Migratory polyarthritis: case report.Reactions. 2015;1571:228-3.Arthritis Foundation.Topical NSAIDs offer joint pain relief.Promelle V, Goeb V, Gueudry J.Rheumatoid arthritis associated episcleritis and scleritis: an update on treatment perspectives.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2118. doi:10.3390/jcm10102118Hua C, Buttgereit F, Combe B.Glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis: current status and future studies.RMD Open. 2020;6(1):e000536. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2017-000536Arthritis Foundation.Weight loss benefits for arthritis.Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190Matriya PC.Polyarthritis.Osteopath Fam Physician. 2018;10(5):24-31.Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Acute infectious arthritis.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Gonorrhea.
National Organization of Rare Disorders.Rheumatic fever.
American College of Rheumatology.Reactive arthritis.
MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Arthritis.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Sarcoidosis.
MedlinePlus.Lyme disease.
MedlinePlus.Endocarditis.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.
Janson JA.Thiamazole: Migratory polyarthritis: case report.Reactions. 2015;1571:228-3.
Arthritis Foundation.Topical NSAIDs offer joint pain relief.
Promelle V, Goeb V, Gueudry J.Rheumatoid arthritis associated episcleritis and scleritis: an update on treatment perspectives.J Clin Med. 2021;10(10):2118. doi:10.3390/jcm10102118
Hua C, Buttgereit F, Combe B.Glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis: current status and future studies.RMD Open. 2020;6(1):e000536. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2017-000536
Arthritis Foundation.Weight loss benefits for arthritis.
Kostoglou-Athanassiou I, Athanassiou L, Athanassiou P.The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on rheumatoid arthritis.Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2020;31(2):190-194. doi:10.31138/mjr.31.2.190
Matriya PC.Polyarthritis.Osteopath Fam Physician. 2018;10(5):24-31.
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.
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